Clarification - Trigger vs. Condition

Configuration
1

Hi, im trying to figure out how HA handles the conditions.

Lets say i have a time trigger to check every 5 seconds.
I then put in a condition to only call the action between 19:00 & 20:00h

Does this mean:
a. The trigger will only be activly checking between 19:00 & 20:00h
or
b. The trigger will always be activly checking but the action is ignored outside of the time frame?

2

Option b, the trigger will check every 5 seconds.

3

In that case it would be great if the trigger itself can be restricted via “before:” & “after:”

In my initial testing this doesnt work. Any other way to do it?

4

The trigger uses next to no CPU, why not just let it run?