Window setTimeout()

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Examples

Wait 5 seconds for the greeting:

const myTimeout = setTimeout(myGreeting, 5000);

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Use clearTimeout(myTimeout) to prevent myGreeting from running:

const myTimeout = setTimeout(myGreeting, 5000);

function myStopFunction() {
clearTimeout(myTimeout);
}

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More examples below.

Definition and Usage

The setTimeout() method calls a function after a number of milliseconds.

1 second = 1000 milliseconds.

Notes

The setTimeout() is executed only once.

If you need repeated executions, use setInterval() instead.

Use the clearTimeout() method to prevent the function from starting.

To clear a timeout, use the id returned from setTimeout():

myTimeout = setTimeout(function, milliseconds);

Then you can to stop the execution by calling clearTimeout():

clearTimeout(myTimeout);

Syntax

setTimeout(function, milliseconds, param1, param2, ...)

Parameters

Parameter	Description
function	Required. The function to execute.
milliseconds	Optional. Number of milliseconds to wait before executing. Default value is 0.
param1, param2, ...	Optional. Parameters to pass to the function. Not supported in IE9 and earlier.

Return Value

Type	Description
A number	The id of the timer. Use this id with clearTimeout(id) to cancel the timer.

More Examples

Display an alert box after 3 seconds (3000 milliseconds):

let timeout;

function myFunction() {
timeout = setTimeout(alertFunc, 3000);
}

function alertFunc() {
alert("Hello!");
}

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Display a timed text:

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Open a new window and close the window after three seconds (3000 milliseconds):

const myWindow = window.open("", "", "width=200, height=100");
setTimeout(function() {myWindow.close()}, 3000);

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Count forever - but with the ability to stop the count:

function startCount()
function stopCount()

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A clock created with timing events:

function startTime() {
  const date = new Date();
  document.getElementById("txt").innerHTML = date.toLocaleTimeString();
  setTimeout(function() {startTime()}, 1000);
}

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Pass parameters to the function (does not work in IE9 and earlier):

setTimeout(myFunc, 2000, "param1", "param2");

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However, if you use an anonymous function, it will work in all browsers:

setTimeout(function() {myFunc("param1", "param2")}, 2000);

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