A chronograph is a specific type of watch that is used as a stopwatch combined with a display watch. A basic chronograph has an independent sweep second hand and a minute sub-dial; it can be started, stopped, and returned to zero by successive pressure on the stem. More complex chronographs use additional complications and can have multiple sub-dials to measure seconds, minutes, hours and even fractions of a second. In addition, many modern chronographs use moveable bezels as tachymeters for rapid calculations of speed or distance. Louis Moinet invented the chronograph in 1816 for use in tracking astronomical objects. Chronographs were also used heavily in artillery fire in the mid to late 1800s. More modern uses of chronographs involve aircraft piloting, auto racing, diving and submarine maneuvering.

काललेखी (chronograph) एक विशेष प्रकार की घड़ी होती है जिसे 'स्टोप वाच' के रूप में भी प्रयोग किया जाता है। किन्तु मूलतः काललिख ऐसा यन्त्र था जिसमें समय को कागज या फीते पर 'लिखने' की व्यवस्था थी।