Timing Methods

by:

Below is a graph detailing when to use which time measurement functions:

Method	Resolution	Runs backwards	Relative to	Cost	Lags if simulation lags	1:1 real time	Constant during frame	Usage
`os.clock()`	1 µs	No	Nothing	Cheap, maybe a touch slower	No	Yes	No	High precision micro profile
`os.time()`	1 second	No	UNIX Epoch	Cheap	No	Yes	No	Get real UNIX timestamp
`tick()`	1 µs - sometimes?	Yes	UNIX Epoch (Sometimes)	Cheap	No	Yes	No	Don’t use, prefer `os.clock()`
`workspace.DistributedGameTime`	1/60	No	On game start	Requires reflection?	Yes	No	Yes	Don’t use
`time()`	1/??	No	On game start	Cheap	Yes	No	Yes	For consistent simulation step
`RunService.Heartbeat(dt)`	1/240	No	N/A	Expensiveish, given in a loop	Yes	No	Yes	Equivalent to `time()`?
`RunService.Stepped(time, dt)`	1/241	No	time is “On game start”	Expensiveish, given in a loop	Yes	No	Yes	Equivalent to `time()`?