A digital clock is any clock which displays the time in a digital way, by displaying numbers or symbols which change minute by minute or second by second. This is in contrast to analog clocks, which are older, and display time by moving hands around a numerical dial of some sort.

In general digital clocks use a 50 or 60 hertz oscillation to keep time. This vibration can be produced either by standard AC power, or through the use of a crystal oscillator, such as those found in quartz clock motors. The actual numbers and symbols on the face of the clock are usually generated using a seven segment LCD, VFD, or LED. The display itself will contain the 4 numbers that make up the time, as well as various other symbols and indicators depending on your model. These can consist of the date, the temperature, and whether it is AM or PM, as well as clock notifications such as whether an alarm is set.

Worldwide most digital clocks display time in the standard 24 hour mode. In some countries such as the United States, the people have the peculiar habit of preferring a 12 hour model, with an AM or PM indicator to delineate between the two time periods.

There are wide varieties of digital clocks which are available, as well as a variety of devices that have incorporated digital clocks into their design. Today you can find them embedded in cell phones, computers, televisions, cable boxes, VCR's, and stereos. They are also a standard in most automobiles, although there is a trend towards incorporating analog clocks into some newer designs.

One of the great drawbacks of digital clocks is setting them. In older devices the clocks would lose power every time the device was unplugged, and the current time would have to be reset as soon as they were plugged in. They also had to be reset twice a year for daylight savings. In many models figuring out how to set the time, and then remembering it, was a relatively difficult task.

Today a number of improvements have been incorporated into digital clocks, such as a backup battery memory, and the ability for the clock to contact a network, in order to update the current time. These devices have made digital clocks much more useful and have eliminated a lot of their hassle.

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