Understanding the Difference Between Hardware Clock and Software Clock

Learn how hardware and software clocks function differently in your computer system.

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The hardware clock is a physical component that keeps track of time even when the computer is off, while the software clock is maintained by the operating system and relies on the hardware clock. Hardware clock synchronizes with software clock at each boot to ensure accurate timekeeping.

FAQs & Answers

  1. What is a hardware clock? A hardware clock is a physical device that keeps track of the current time even when the system is powered off.
  2. How does a software clock work? A software clock relies on the operating system to keep track of time using the hardware clock's information during system operation.
  3. Why is synchronization between hardware and software clocks important? Synchronization ensures that timekeeping remains accurate, especially after the computer is restarted.
  4. Can software clocks run without a hardware clock? No, software clocks depend on the hardware clock as their time reference.