Python Project: Create a Countdown Timer

Level: Beginner

Project Overview 💡

In this project, you'll build a countdown timer using Python's time module. The user enters a number of seconds, and the program counts down to zero, updating every second in the terminal. This is a great example of loops, formatting output, and working with time-based functions.

---

Challenge Yourself! 🚀

Before checking the solution, try creating a script that takes a number of seconds and counts down to zero, displaying the time left.

Task:

Write a Python program that:

• Asks the user to input a duration in seconds

• Displays a countdown timer in mm:ss format

• Prints a message when the timer is done

Expected Output: The program will ask the user to enter a value for seconds (e.g., 10):

After the user enters the seconds, the program will print out the time every second and then print out “Time’s up!” at the end.

Give it a shot! Scroll down when you're ready for the step-by-step guide.

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Spoiler Alert!

---

---

---

---

---

---

---

Step-by-Step Guide

Step 1️⃣: Import the time Module

This module allows us to pause the program for one second between countdown ticks.

import time

Step 2️⃣: Define the Countdown Function

Create a function that takes seconds as input and displays the time countdown.

def countdown_timer(seconds):
    while seconds:
        mins, secs = divmod(seconds, 60)
        timer = f'{mins:02d}:{secs:02d}'
        print(timer, end="\r")
        time.sleep(1)
        seconds -= 1
    print("Time's up!")

Step 3️⃣: Get User Input

Prompt the user to enter the number of seconds to count down.

time_in_seconds = int(input("Enter the time in seconds: "))

Step 4️⃣: Start the Countdown

Call the countdown function with the user's input.

countdown_timer(time_in_seconds)

---

Complete Code 🧨

import time

def countdown_timer(seconds):
    while seconds:
        mins, secs = divmod(seconds, 60)
        timer = f'{mins:02d}:{secs:02d}'
        print(timer, end="\r")
        time.sleep(1)
        seconds -= 1

    print("Time's up!")

# Ask the user for the countdown time in seconds
time_in_seconds = int(input("Enter the time in seconds: "))
countdown_timer(time_in_seconds)

---

Alternative Solution

Here’s a version that clears the terminal each second instead of overwriting the line:

import time
import os

def countdown_timer(seconds):
    while seconds:
        mins, secs = divmod(seconds, 60)
        print(f"{mins:02d}:{secs:02d}")
        time.sleep(1)
        os.system('cls' if os.name == 'nt' else 'clear')
        seconds -= 1
    print("Time's up!")

seconds = int(input("Enter time in seconds: "))
countdown_timer(seconds)

Comparison

• The original version uses end="\r" to overwrite the same line in the terminal.

• The alternative version clears the screen every second, which may be more visually pleasing in some terminals.

---

Want More? 🔥

Enjoyed this project? Unlock real-world projects with full guides & solutions by subscribing to the paid plan. 🎉