How Accurate is Python\'s `time.sleep()` Function, and What Can I Do to Improve Its Precision?

Accuracy of Python's time.sleep() Function

While the time.sleep() function allows floating point numbers as arguments, its accuracy depends on the underlying operating system's sleep accuracy. For non-real-time OSs like Windows, the minimum interval for which a process can sleep is approximately 10-13 milliseconds.

Therefore, when using time.sleep(0.05), the actual sleep duration may differ from the specified 50 milliseconds. It may actually sleep for as little as 10-13 milliseconds, depending on the system's capabilities.

Considerations:

• Reference documentation states that the sleep accuracy on non-real-time OSs varies and can be unpredictable.
• It's recommended to implement a loop that repeatedly calls time.sleep() to ensure the desired sleep duration is met, even if the system wakes the process early.
• For improved accuracy, consider using a real-time OS, such as Linux with the RT_PREEMPT patch set.

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