What is a Pomodoro Timer?
The Pomodoro Timer is named after the Pomodoro Technique (Italian for "tomato"), a time-management method that alternates focused work sessions (25 minutes by default) with short breaks (5 minutes by default), followed by a longer break (15 minutes by default) after a set number of rounds. This tool automatically calculates and cycles through the focus and break phases for you, and because it recomputes the actual elapsed time whenever you check back, the timing stays accurate even if you switch to another browser tab in the meantime.
How to use it
Enter your focus time, short break time, and long break time as precisely as you like in hours, minutes, and seconds, set how many rounds to repeat before a long break, then press "Start" to begin the first focus session immediately. A sound plays every time the phase changes, and if you allow browser notifications you'll also get notified even while looking at a different tab. The completed pomodoro count goes up by one every time a focus session finishes.
When it comes in handy
- Staying focused during long study or work sessions
- Letting the timer decide when to take a break instead of guessing
- Tracking how many pomodoros you've completed today for a sense of progress
- Getting notified of phase changes even while working in another tab
Frequently Asked Questions
- Does it still work accurately if I switch to another tab?
- Yes. The timer recalculates the real elapsed time since it started every time it checks, so even if the browser slows down the timer in a background tab, it snaps back to the correct point the moment you return.
- Do I need to enable browser notifications?
- No. Even without allowing notifications, you'll still see phase changes on screen and hear a sound. Notifications are an optional extra that help when you're looking at a different tab.
- Can I customize the focus and break lengths?
- Yes. You can set the focus time, short break, long break, and the number of rounds before a long break exactly how you like.