The {IDF_TARGET_NAME} chip contains two hardware timer groups. Each group has two general-purpose hardware timers. They are all 64-bit generic timers based on 16-bit prescalers and 64-bit up / down counters which are capable of being auto-reloaded.
*:ref:`timer-api-timer-initialization` - covers which parameters should be set up to get the timer working, and also what specific functionality is provided depending on the timer configuration.
*:ref:`timer-api-timer-control` - describes how to read a timer's value, pause or start a timer, and change how it operates.
*:ref:`timer-api-alarms` - shows how to set and use alarms.
*:ref:`timer-api-interrupts`- explains how to enable and use interrupts.
The two {IDF_TARGET_NAME} timer groups, with two timers in each, provide the total of four individual timers for use. An {IDF_TARGET_NAME} timer group should be identified using :cpp:type:`timer_group_t`. An individual timer in a group should be identified with :cpp:type:`timer_idx_t`.
First of all, the timer should be initialized by calling the function :cpp:func:`timer_init` and passing a structure :cpp:type:`timer_config_t` to it to define how the timer should operate. In particular, the following timer parameters can be set:
***Divider**: Sets how quickly the timer's counter is "ticking". The setting :cpp:member:`divider` is used as a divisor of the incoming 80 MHz APB_CLK clock.
***Mode**: Sets if the counter should be incrementing or decrementing. It can be defined using :cpp:member:`counter_dir` by selecting one of the values from :cpp:type:`timer_count_dir_t`.
***Counter Enable**: If the counter is enabled, it will start incrementing / decrementing immediately after calling :cpp:func:`timer_init`. You can change the behavior with :cpp:member:`counter_en` by selecting one of the values from :cpp:type:`timer_start_t`.
***Alarm Enable**: Can be set using :cpp:member:`alarm_en`.
***Auto Reload**: Sets if the counter should :cpp:member:`auto_reload` the initial counter value on the timer's alarm or continue incrementing or decrementing.
***Interrupt Type**: Select which interrupt type should be triggered on the timer's alarm. Set the value defined in :cpp:type:`timer_intr_mode_t`.
Once the timer is enabled, its counter starts running. To enable the timer, call the function :cpp:func:`timer_init` with :cpp:member:`counter_en` set to ``true``, or call :cpp:func:`timer_start`. You can specify the timer's initial counter value by calling :cpp:func:`timer_set_counter_value`. To check the timer's current value, call :cpp:func:`timer_get_counter_value` or :cpp:func:`timer_get_counter_time_sec`.
Divider :cpp:func:`timer_set_divider` Change the rate of ticking. To avoid unpredictable results, the timer should be paused when changing the divider. If the timer is running, :cpp:func:`timer_set_divider` pauses it, change the setting, and start the timer again.
Mode :cpp:func:`timer_set_counter_mode` Set if the counter should be incrementing or decrementing
Auto Reload :cpp:func:`timer_set_auto_reload` Set if the initial counter value should be reloaded on the timer's alarm
To set an alarm, call the function :cpp:func:`timer_set_alarm_value` and then enable the alarm using :cpp:func:`timer_set_alarm`. The alarm can also be enabled during the timer initialization stage, when :cpp:func:`timer_init` is called.
* An interrupt will be triggered if previously configured. See Section :ref:`timer-api-interrupts` on how to configure interrupts.
* When :cpp:member:`auto_reload` is enabled, the timer's counter will automatically be reloaded to start counting again from a previously configured value. This value should be set in advance with :cpp:func:`timer_set_counter_value`.
When handling an interrupt within an interrupt serivce routine (ISR), the interrupt status bit needs to be explicitly cleared. To do that, set the ``TIMERGN.{IDF_TARGET_INT_CLR_REG}.tM`` structure, defined in :component_file:`soc/soc/{IDF_TARGET_PATH_NAME}/include/soc/timer_group_struct.h`. In this structure, ``N`` is the timer group number [0, 1], ``M`` is the timer number [0, 1]. For example, to clear an interrupt status bit for the timer 1 in the timer group 0, call the following::