---
name: "ntptime"
section: "8"
platform: "freebsd"
package: "base"
version: "16.0-CURRENT-20261027-61c70dc16a79"
release: "FreeBSD 16.0-CURRENT (2026-10-27)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ntptime/8"
---

# ntptime(8)

read kernel time variables

## NAME

**ntptime** – read kernel time variables

## SYNOPSIS

**ntptime** \[**-chr**\] \[**-e** *est\_error*\] \[**-f** *frequency*\] \[**-m** *max\_error*\] \[**-o** *offset*\] \[**-s** *status*\] \[**-t** *time\_constant*\]

## DESCRIPTION

The **ntptime** utility is useful only with special kernels described in the" A Kernel Model for Precision Timekeeping" page (available as part of the HTML documentation provided in */usr/share/doc/ntp*). It reads and displays time-related kernel variables using the **gettime**() and [adjtime(2)](/adjtime/2.md) system calls if available. A similar display can be obtained using the [ntpdc(8)](/ntpdc/8.md) program's **kerninfo** command.

The following options are available:

- **-c**

  Display the execution time of **ntptime** itself.

- **-e** *est\_error*

  Specify estimated error, in microseconds.

- **-f** *frequency*

  Specify frequency offset, in parts per million.

- **-h**

  Display help information.

- **-m** *max\_error*

  Specify max possible errors, in microseconds.

- **-o** *offset*

  Specify clock offset, in microseconds.

- **-r**

  Display Unix and NTP times in raw format.

- **-s** *status*

  - **-t** *time\_constant*

  Specify time constant, an integer in the range 0-4.

## SEE ALSO

[adjtime(2)](/adjtime/2.md), [ntpdc(8)](/ntpdc/8.md)