Run javascript function when user finishes typing instead of on key up?

Question

I want to trigger an ajax request when the user has finished typing in a text box. I don\'t want it to run the function on every time the user types a letter because that wo

Answer 1

So, I'm going to guess finish typing means you just stop for a while, say 5 seconds. So with that in mind, lets start a timer when the user releases a key and clear it when they press one. I decided the input in question will be #myInput.

Making a few assumptions...

//setup before functions
var typingTimer;                //timer identifier
var doneTypingInterval = 5000;  //time in ms, 5 second for example
var $input = $('#myInput');

//on keyup, start the countdown
$input.on('keyup', function () {
  clearTimeout(typingTimer);
  typingTimer = setTimeout(doneTyping, doneTypingInterval);
});

//on keydown, clear the countdown 
$input.on('keydown', function () {
  clearTimeout(typingTimer);
});

//user is "finished typing," do something
function doneTyping () {
  //do something
}

Answer 2

I feel like the solution is somewhat a bit simpler with the input event:

var typingTimer;
var doneTypingInterval = 500;

$("#myInput").on("input", function () {
    window.clearTimeout(typingTimer);
    typingTimer = window.setTimeout(doneTyping, doneTypingInterval);
});

function doneTyping () {
    // code here
}

Answer 3

Both top 2 answers doesn't work for me. So, here is my solution:

var timeout = null;

$('#myInput').keyup(function() {
    clearTimeout(timeout);

    timeout = setTimeout(function() {
        //do stuff here
    }, 500);
});

Answer 4

agree with the @going 's answer. Another similar solution that worked for me is the one below. The only difference is that I am using .on("input"...) instead of keyup. This only captures changes in the input. other keys like Ctrl, Shift etc. are ignored

var typingTimer;                //timer identifier
var doneTypingInterval = 5000;  //time in ms (5 seconds)

//on input change, start the countdown

$('#myInput').on("input", function() {    
    clearTimeout(typingTimer);
    typingTimer = setTimeout(function(){
        // doSomething...
    }, doneTypingInterval);
});

Answer 5

Wow, even 3 comments are pretty correct!

1. Empty input is not a reason to skip function call, e.g. I remove waste parameter from url before redirect

2. .on ('input', function() { ... }); should be used to trigger keyup, paste and change events

3. definitely .val() or .value must be used

4. You can use $(this) inside event function instead of #id to work with multiple inputs

5. (my decision) I use anonymous function instead of doneTyping in setTimeout to easily access $(this) from n.4, but you need to save it first like var $currentInput = $(this);

EDIT I see that some people don't understand directions without the possibility to copy-paste ready code. Here you're

var typingTimer;
//                  2
$("#myinput").on('input', function () {
    //             4     3
    var input = $(this).val();
    clearTimeout(typingTimer);
    //                           5
    typingTimer = setTimeout(function() {
        // do something with input
        alert(input);
    }, 5000);      
});