Measuring elapsed time with the Time module

Question

With the Time module in python is it possible to measure elapsed time? If so, how do I do that?

I need to do this so that if the cursor has been in a widget for a c

Answer 1

In programming, there are 2 main ways to measure time, with different results:

>>> print(time.process_time()); time.sleep(10); print(time.process_time())
0.11751394000000001
0.11764988400000001  # took  0 seconds and a bit
>>> print(time.perf_counter()); time.sleep(10); print(time.perf_counter())
3972.465770326
3982.468109075       # took 10 seconds and a bit

• Processor Time: This is how long this specific process spends actively being executed on the CPU. Sleep, waiting for a web request, or time when only other processes are executed will not contribute to this.

  • Use time.process_time()

• Wall-Clock Time: This refers to how much time has passed "on a clock hanging on the wall", i.e. outside real time.

  • Use time.perf_counter()

    • time.time() also measures wall-clock time but can be reset, so you could go back in time
    • time.monotonic() cannot be reset (monotonic = only goes forward) but has lower precision than time.perf_counter()