Chrony is a network time synchronization tool used in computer systems to maintain accurate time. It is particularly useful for systems that are not always connected to the internet, as it can quickly adjust the system clock when a connection is available. Chrony works by communicating with time servers and can operate in various modes, making it flexible for different environments. Chrony is often preferred over other time synchronization tools like NTP (Network Time Protocol) due to its ability to perform well in virtualized environments and its efficiency in handling network latency. It is commonly used in servers and embedded systems where precise timekeeping is essential for applications and logging.