What does a watch dog timer do in microcontroller

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A watch dog timer is a hardware component in a microcontroller that monitors the system's operation and resets it if necessary.

It is used to prevent system crashes or lock-ups by resetting the microcontroller if it fails to respond within a certain time period.
The watch dog timer needs to be periodically reset by the software to prevent it from triggering a system reset.
It is commonly used in safety-critical systems, where a failure could have serious consequences.
For example, in automotive applications, the watch dog timer ensures that the microcontroller controlling the engine functions properly and prevents potential accidents.
The watch dog timer can also be used to detect and recover from software bugs or infinite loops.

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