# pcntl_alarm

(PHP 4 >= 4.3.0, PHP 5)

pcntl_alarm — Set an alarm clock for delivery of a signal

### Description

int pcntl_alarm ( int `$seconds` )

Creates a timer that will send a `SIGALRM` signal to the process after the given number of seconds. Any call to pcntl_alarm() will cancel any previously set alarm.

### Parameters

`seconds`

  The number of seconds to wait. If `seconds` is zero, no new alarm is created.

### Return Values

Returns the time in seconds that any previously scheduled alarm had remaining before it was to be delivered, or 0 if there was no previously scheduled alarm.