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Limitations of Timer Component Interval Property 03/30/2017
timers [Windows Forms], event intervals
Interval property [Windows Forms], limitations
timers [Windows Forms], Windows-based
Timer component [Windows Forms], limitations of Interval property
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Limitations of the Windows Forms Timer Component's Interval Property

The Windows Forms xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer component has an xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer.Interval%2A property that specifies the number of milliseconds that pass between one timer event and the next. Unless the component is disabled, a timer continues to receive the xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer.Tick event at roughly equal intervals of time.

This component is designed for a Windows Forms environment. If you need a timer that is suitable for a server environment, see Introduction to Server-Based Timers.

The Interval Property

The xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer.Interval%2A property has a few limitations to consider when you are programming a xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer component:

  • If your application or another application is making heavy demands on the system — such as long loops, intensive calculations, or drive, network, or port access — your application may not get timer events as often as the xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer.Interval%2A property specifies.

  • The interval is not guaranteed to elapse exactly on time. To ensure accuracy, the timer should check the system clock as needed, rather than try to keep track of accumulated time internally.

  • The precision of the xref:System.Windows.Forms.Timer.Interval%2A property is in milliseconds. Some computers provide a high-resolution counter that has a resolution higher than milliseconds. The availability of such a counter depends on the processor hardware of your computer.

See also