Duty cycle is a term usually used in the field of electronics and engineering to describe the ratio of time a device or machine is operational to the total time of operation. However, there are a few synonyms that can be used to describe this term in a similar way. A few such synonyms include operating cycle, activity cycle, engagement cycle or work cycle. All these terms essentially refer to the time a machine, process or device is engaged or in operation relative to the total time it is available for use. Regardless of the terminology used, duty cycle remains an important consideration in designing and operating any system.