Looking for today's Connections answer for puzzle #227 on January 24 is easier than yesterday's and the difficulty level for this puzzle on Connections Companion is 2.4 out of 5.

We update our Connections clues and hints daily. And if the hints are not enough, see the four answers below, along with the category title and related words. In addition, for those of you reading this in a different time zone, I have included a reflection on yesterday's puzzle #226.

There are spoilers for Connection #227. Only those who want to know the answer to today's Connections should read on.

Alternatively, see our NYT Connections How to Play Guide for tips on how to solve the puzzle without our help.

While today's wordle solution guide recommends the best wordle starting words as a strategy, the Connections solution depends on identifying the categories that are connected from the 16 words. The difficulty of each category is represented by a color, with yellow being the easiest grouping and purple the most difficult. Hints are helpful as the answer is displayed after four wrong guesses.

If you need a hint to help you solve the groupings, here are each theme in order of difficulty:

If you read these hints, you should at least find the answer to today's connection. If not, please continue reading for larger hints. Also, if you only want the answer, scroll down further.

Now here's the bigger clue. As you navigate today's riddle, don't be fooled by the apparent focus on technology. Family bonds are as strong as the finest optics. And pay attention to subtle changes. The slightest change can mean a whole new expression.

Now, what is the answer to today's 227th game of Connections?

Drum roll, please.

The words Clock, Calculator, Calendar, and Camera immediately caught my attention today. All of these digital assistants fit comfortably on my smartphone and bring structure to my chaotic days.

Ahead of my gaze, the family call beckoned. Mama, Dada, and Grammy were waving at me, trying to get my attention. Should I add putty or poppy to this list? I once considered adding a multilingual twist, but logic prevailed.

The blue categories materialized as if an eye chart were being gradually sharpened before my eyes. All the elements that make up the human eye-the lens, iris, pupil, and cones-aligned and formed a distinct group.

The result left me with a curious collection: Pate, Resume, Expose, and Rose. When each word is adorned with an accent marker, its pronunciation and meaning are transformed, acquiring a continental sophistication. With this insight, the purple category has been brilliantly deciphered.

And so the puzzle was solved, a gallery of words that extends from pixel to pupil, from affection to expression.

It is much later in the day when this text is read. According to the Connections Companion, the difficulty level was 3.2 out of 5.

Today's trip to the land of connections took me through a bustling marketplace, the chatter of commerce ringing in my ears. Pocketfuls of coins in hand, I thought I had stumbled upon a fortune. But as I counted pounds, buck, coins, sterling, bars, and dollars, I realized this was no simple transaction. [Like a jeweler appraising gems, I stepped back and looked at the grid. The three categories of Devise, Create, and Invent were mixed together, proving that Coin is not just a currency, but the last piece of the puzzle that the yellow category creates.

A little peek through my fingers revealed At (@), Pound (#), Percent (%), and Dollar ($). These keyboard stalwarts, sitting above the numbers on my keys, were surely working hand in hand together to create the very blue category of the day.

So it seems that the treasure trove of numismatic terms was only a romp. Sterling, prime, quality, fine, these were not mere mint treasures, but adjectives of excellence, shining together as the green category.

What remained were Time, Buck, Bar, and Torch. These felt like nonconformists until they realized that they were connected by a common gesture of continuity. Pass the bar, back, time, torch.

As the clamor of the marketplace faded away, I emerged victorious from today's Connections Bazaar.