A time bomb is an explosive device detonated by a timer, historically used for terrorism, insurance fraud, assassination, and sabotage. Its core components include an explosive charge, a detonator, and a timing mechanism that can be professionally made or improvised from everyday items like wind-up alarm clocks, kitchen timers, or notebook computers. Distinct variants include delay-action bombs dropped from aircraft, improvised explosive devices (IEDs) designed to let the placer escape, and limpet mines attached to enemy ships by divers. Beyond real-world use, time bombs are a staple plot device in thriller and action films, creating dramatic tension and urgency. Related concepts include the hypothetical "ticking time bomb" scenario used to debate the ethics of torture, and software time bombs, which are malicious programs coded to activate on a specific date.