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timer

An online timer counts down a configurable duration with an audible/visual alarm at zero — used for cooking, workouts, Pomodoro work intervals, presentations, and any activity needing time-boxing. The ZTools Online Timer offers three modes: countdown (count down from N), stopwatch (count up), and Pomodoro (25-minute work + 5-minute break cycles, customisable). Browser-based with full audio control, dark mode, presets (5/10/15/30/60 minutes; standard Pomodoro), and tab-title updates so the timer is visible even when the tab is in the background.

Use cases​

Pomodoro productivity​

25 minutes focused work + 5 minutes break × 4 cycles = ~2 hours of structured deep work. Standard Pomodoro Technique since 1980s.

Workouts / HIIT​

Interval training: 30-second sprint + 30-second rest × 8 rounds. Timer announces each transition.

Cooking / kitchen​

Multiple parallel timers for different dishes. Phone app limits simultaneous timers; browser tab is unlimited.

Presentation / meeting time-boxing​

Each speaker gets 5 minutes. Timer enforces; visible on shared screen.

Game / quiz time limits​

Countdown for puzzle / trivia / coding-challenge solving.

How it works​

  1. Pick mode — Countdown / stopwatch / Pomodoro.
  2. Set duration — Hours / minutes / seconds. Or pick a preset (1m, 5m, 15m, 30m, 1h).
  3. Start — Begins immediately; can pause/resume.
  4. Tab title updates — Browser tab title shows remaining time — visible when tab is in background.
  5. Alarm at zero — Audio (configurable; mute available) + visual flash + browser notification (with permission).
  6. Pomodoro mode — Auto-cycles work + break, tracks completed cycles, shows session progress.

Examples​

Input: 25-minute Pomodoro

Output: Counts down 25:00 → 0:00; auto-rolls into 5-minute break; repeats.

Input: HIIT 30s/30s × 8

Output: 8 cycles of work+rest; alarm at each transition.

Input: Cooking: 12-minute pasta + 5-minute sauce

Output: Two parallel timers; both alert independently.

Frequently asked questions​

Will the timer keep running if I close the tab?

No — timer stops when tab closes. Keep the tab open in the background.

Will it work if I lock my computer?

Most browsers throttle background tabs (1 tick/second instead of more frequent). The timer remains accurate but UI updates may lag. Audio alarm fires on time.

Can I get a desktop notification?

Yes — grant notification permission once; alerts at zero + Pomodoro transitions appear as system notifications.

Is the audio mute respected?

Yes — system mute and per-tab mute both respected. For silent environments, use the visual flash + desktop notification.

How accurate is it?

Sub-second accuracy on active tabs; ±1 second on backgrounded tabs (browser throttling).

Multiple timers?

Yes — open multiple browser tabs; each runs independently.

Tips​

  • For Pomodoro, use 25/5 to start; experiment with 50/10 once 25/5 feels easy.
  • Grant notification permission for cross-tab alerts — useful when working in another window.
  • For interval training, set up the timer beforehand; don't fiddle mid-workout.
  • Tab title updates make this perfect for multi-tasking — glance at tab to see time left.
  • Bookmark for one-click access; reload restores last-used preset.

Try it now​

The full timer runs in your browser at https://ztools.zaions.com/timer — no signup, no upload, no data leaves your device.

Open the tool ↗

Last updated: 2026-05-06 · Author: Ahsan Mahmood · Edit this page on GitHub