Laps, splits, and hands-free control
Hit Lap while the stopwatch runs to record a split: the table shows each lap number, the time for that lap alone, and the cumulative total, with the fastest and slowest laps highlighted. Everything works from the keyboard — Space starts and pauses, L records a lap, and R resets.
Elapsed time is computed from performance.now() timestamps rather than by
counting ticks, so the display shows centiseconds without drifting and the total stays
correct even if the tab sits in the background. For counting down instead of up, use the
countdown timer or the
pomodoro timer for work/break cycles; for scheduling
across regions, try the timezone converter. And if a
key feels unresponsive while you time things, the
keyboard test checks every key and your rollover.
Frequently asked questions
How accurate is this online stopwatch?
Elapsed time is computed from high-resolution performance.now() timestamps — the difference between when you pressed Start and now — rather than by counting timer ticks, so it cannot accumulate drift. The display shows centiseconds (hundredths of a second), and the render loop only repaints the screen; it plays no part in the measurement itself.
Are there keyboard shortcuts?
Yes: Space starts and pauses, L records a lap while the stopwatch is running, and R resets. The shortcuts are ignored while you are typing in a text field elsewhere on the page, so they will not fire accidentally.
Does it stay accurate in a background tab?
Yes. Browsers pause animation frames in hidden tabs, so the on-screen digits freeze while you are away — but because the elapsed time is derived from timestamps rather than counted ticks, the display snaps to the correct total the instant you return. Laps recorded after a long background stretch are exact.