TIME EXPLAINED
Time accuracy
Accurate time is more than a number on a screen. It relies on references, synchronisation and transmission whose limits should remain understandable.
How is reliable time obtained?
Civil time relies on internationally recognised time references. A web service does not create time: it regularly synchronises its server clock with reliable sources. In Switzerland, METAS is responsible for legal time.
Synchronisation and networks
Time servers compare their clocks through NTP. Between the server and a screen, however, sit the network, browser and device. Delays can vary, so explaining the limits is more honest than promising absolute accuracy.
Live time accuracy measurements
These measurements describe how well your browser is synchronised with our time reference at the time of testing.
- Status
- Calibrating…
- Time source
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- NTP stratum
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- Valid samples
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- Minimum round-trip time (RTT)
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- Median RTT
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- RTT MAD
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- Spread of the three best samples
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- Browser / reference offset
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- Server NTP offset
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- Server NTP jitter
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Important : The time displayed in a browser is limited by network transmission, the device and the browser. The server’s NTP measurements must not be confused with the final accuracy of the time shown on your screen.
A transparent approach
Heure-Exacte makes time available without an account. Since 2005, its purpose has remained the same: to provide essential information that is simple to read and clear about its origin.