Real time

One of 24's unique features is its narrative structure, in which events unfold in "real time," with one hour elapsing for the characters at the same rate as one hour for the viewers. One season is 24 episodes, with each episode making up one hour in the day.

In order to keep the show moving when characters are simply waiting for something to happen (for instance, driving from one place to another), the series juggles several plotlines, cutting from one to another to maximize suspense and drama. Over the course of a season, the writers typically show events from the point of view of Counter Terrorist Unit, the White House, the terrorists, and one or more civilian families connected to the day's events. Unlike traditional dramas, which use one set of characters for an "A plot" and another for a "B plot," 24 usually updates all its running plotlines in each episode.

Since American broadcast series are interrupted by commercials, 24 shows a ticking clock noting the time, and a split screen showing what a handful of characters are doing, at the beginning and end of every break. Although there is technically nothing going on during the commercial breaks, credits, and previouslies, the viewer is meant to assume that the characters have been going about their lives.