Timer

1. Timer is an automatic mechanism for activating a device at a preset time.
2. A timer is a specialized type of clock used for measuring specific time intervals.

Timers are used to measure specific time intervals. But in electrical engineering terms, timers are also referred to as counters often. The timer is a component which is extensively used in different embedded systems. They are used to keep a record of time for different events occurring in the embedded systems. There are two main categories in which timers are classified:
• The analog timers are those timers which are set up by knobs and their output is observed with analog scale. The timing functionalities and scale of an analog timer are easily adjusted with the help of switches mounted on the front side of the timer.
• Digital timers are adjusted and controlled with the help of digital inputs and their output is also observed with the digital scales. The different buttons are used to set up the timing and set points of a timer. The output is displayed through the LCD mounted on the timer.

Sources:

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate® Dictionary, Eleventh Edition https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary

Англійський словник Коллінза, https://www.collinsdictionary.com/

Timers https://www.electgo.com/timers/