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Focus Timer

A crisp Pomodoro timer with work, short and long break cycles.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the Pomodoro technique?

It is a time-management method that alternates focused work intervals (classically 25 minutes) with short breaks, then a longer break after several rounds, to sustain concentration. The technique was invented by Francesco Cirillo and is based on the idea that frequent breaks improve mental agility and prevent fatigue. A typical session cycles through four 25-minute work intervals (called 'pomodoros') with 5-minute breaks between them, then a longer 15-30 minute break after completing all four rounds. This structured approach helps maintain focus by knowing a break is coming soon, and the rhythm prevents burnout through regular recovery periods.

Will it alert me when a session ends?

Yes — you can enable an end-of-session alert so you know when to switch between work and break without watching the clock. The alert is a clear audio or visual notification that fires exactly when your work or break period completes, allowing you to set it and forget it rather than glancing at a timer constantly. This helps you stay fully focused on your task without distraction, knowing the alert will notify you when it's time to transition. You can customize the alert sound or type to suit your environment and preference.

Does the timer keep running in the background?

Keep the tab open and the timer continues. For reliability, avoid letting your device sleep during a session, as your browser will pause when the computer goes to sleep. The timer runs in JavaScript in your browser tab, so switching to other tabs or applications won't stop it as long as your device remains active. If you need the timer to continue while you close the browser or let the device sleep, keep the tab open in your taskbar and take breaks without putting your device into sleep mode.

Pro tips

  • Decide the single task before starting the timer. A focus block spent choosing what to focus on is the most common way one is wasted.
  • Set the interval to match the work rather than the tradition — long-form technical work rarely fits neatly into 25 minutes.
  • Take the break away from the screen. Switching tabs is a change of content, not a change of attention.
  • Keep the tab visible for reliable alerts; browsers throttle background tabs aggressively and may delay a notification.
  • Write down interruptions rather than acting on them, and handle the list during a break — that is what keeps the block intact.

About Focus Timer

Work and break lengths are yours to set, so the classic 25-and-5 split is a default rather than a rule. An optional alert marks the end of each session, so the tab can sit in the background and still tell you when to stop.

A clean Pomodoro timer that cycles through focused work sessions, short breaks and longer breaks to help you concentrate and avoid burnout. The Pomodoro technique breaks work into manageable intervals so you stay productive without marathon sessions.

Optional end-of-session alerts mean the tab can sit in the background while you work. Customise the work and break lengths to match how you actually focus rather than the textbook 25 minutes.

The technique works because of the constraint, not the clock. A fixed uninterrupted block with a defined end makes starting easier — the commitment is bounded — and the scheduled break is what stops the block turning into an unsustainable stretch. The classic 25 and 5 split is a starting point rather than a rule; deep technical work often suits 45 or 50 minutes, while a fragmented or low-energy day suits shorter blocks. What matters is that the interval is decided in advance and honoured.

Breaks are the part people discard first and should not. The point is to change what your attention is doing, which a scroll through the same screen does not achieve — standing up, looking at something distant, or moving briefly all work better. Equally, the timer only protects against your own drift; it cannot silence notifications or colleagues, so the interval is worth defending explicitly rather than expecting the clock to do it.

Common use cases

  • Students working through revision in defined sessions with scheduled rests.
  • Developers and writers protecting a block of deep work from drift and interruption.
  • Anyone working from home who tends to work straight through without breaks.
  • Managing tasks you are avoiding, where a bounded 25-minute commitment is easier to start than an open-ended one.
  • Pacing repetitive or physically static work where regular breaks matter for more than concentration.
How it comparesDedicated apps such as Forest and Focus To-Do add streaks, task lists and statistics, which help if gamification motivates you. A browser tab is faster to start and adds no account, which suits people who want the interval rather than the productivity system around it.