Time

The synced clock as a value — the heartbeat behind almost every animation recipe.

Output: number (live readout on the card)

Inputs

None.

Parameters

Parameter	Default	Where
mode	sin	dropdown on the card: t (seconds), sin, saw, pingpong
rate	1	slider on the card (0.1–5) — time multiplier

Modes: t = raw seconds (ever-growing), sin = smooth wave −1…1, saw = ramp 0…1 that snaps back, pingpong = 0…1…0 triangle. All peers read the same shared clock, so the phase matches everywhere.

Practical example

Make a cube's spin "breathe":

1. Add a Time node (mode sin).
2. Add a Map Range node: in −1…1 → out 0.2…2.
3. Wire Time → Map Range's a, Map Range → a Spin node's speed input, and Spin → an Object Selector targeting your cube.
4. The spin speed now swells and eases in a smooth loop.

Tip

sin is centered on zero — pass it through Map Range whenever a parameter wants a positive range.