Execute script after specific delay using JavaScript

Question

Is there any JavaScript method similar to the jQuery delay() or wait() (to delay the execution of a script for a specific amount of time)?

Answer 1

You can also use window.setInterval() to run some code repeatedly at a regular interval.

Answer 2

why can't you put the code behind a promise? (typed in off the top of my head)

new Promise(function(resolve, reject) {
  setTimeout(resolve, 2000);
}).then(function() {
  console.log('do whatever you wanted to hold off on');
});

Answer 3

If you really want to have a blocking (synchronous) delay function (for whatsoever), why not do something like this:

<script type="text/javascript">
    function delay(ms) {
        var cur_d = new Date();
        var cur_ticks = cur_d.getTime();
        var ms_passed = 0;
        while(ms_passed < ms) {
            var d = new Date();  // Possible memory leak?
            var ticks = d.getTime();
            ms_passed = ticks - cur_ticks;
            // d = null;  // Prevent memory leak?
        }
    }

    alert("2 sec delay")
    delay(2000);
    alert("done ... 500 ms delay")
    delay(500);
    alert("done");
</script>

Answer 4

If you only need to test a delay you can use this:

function delay(ms) {
   ms += new Date().getTime();
   while (new Date() < ms){}
}

And then if you want to delay for 2 second you do:

delay(2000);

Might not be the best for production though. More on that in the comments

Answer 5

The simplest solution to call your function with delay is:

function executeWithDelay(anotherFunction) {
    setTimeout(anotherFunction, delayInMilliseconds);
}

Answer 6

The simple reply is:

setTimeout(
    function () {
        x = 1;
    }, 1000);

The function above waits for 1 second (1000 ms) then sets x to 1. Obviously this is an example; you can do anything you want inside the anonymous function.