Which protocol is commonly used to synchronize time between machines?

• A. Trivial Time Protocol
• B. Simple Network Time Protocol
• C. Network Time Protocol
• D. Time Allocation Protocol

Answer: (C)

Time synchronization across machines is achieved by a protocol that coordinates clocks over a network. The widely adopted standard for this task is the Network Time Protocol. NTP works by exchanging timestamps between clients and servers, forming a hierarchical set of time sources (strata), and using algorithms to estimate clock offset and network delay so each machine can adjust its clock accordingly. It delivers high accuracy, especially on local networks, and remains scalable enough to handle many devices across the Internet. There’s a simpler variant, Simple Network Time Protocol, used by devices with less stringent requirements, but the full Network Time Protocol is the mainstream choice because of its robustness and precision. The other two options aren’t standard methods for synchronizing time between machines.