9.md

Timers - a source of time

A timer is a device that regularly generates events.

Why is it needed?

A timer allows you to:

• measure time
• switch tasks
• prevent freezes

Key idea

A timer is the "heartbeat" of the system.

Every tick:

• the kernel gains control
• can make decisions
• can change the task being executed

Without a timer

• no multitasking
• no fair CPU distribution
• the system is unmanageable