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JS Timing

JavaScript Timing Functions

JavaScript timing uses setTimeout and setInterval for scheduling.

Understanding JavaScript Timing

JavaScript timing is a crucial part of web development when it comes to scheduling tasks. JavaScript provides two main functions to help with this: setTimeout and setInterval. These functions allow you to execute code after a specified time interval.

Using setTimeout

The setTimeout function is used to execute a function once after a specified number of milliseconds. This can be useful for delaying the execution of a piece of code.

In the above example, the message will be logged to the console after a delay of 2 seconds (2000 milliseconds). The setTimeout function takes two arguments: a callback function and a delay in milliseconds.

Using setInterval

The setInterval function is used to repeatedly execute a function at a specified interval (in milliseconds). This is ideal for tasks that require repeated execution, such as updating a clock or fetching data periodically.

In this snippet, the message will be logged every 3 seconds. The function continues to execute until it is explicitly stopped using clearInterval.

Clearing Timers

Both setTimeout and setInterval return a unique identifier. This ID can be used to cancel the scheduled function calls using clearTimeout or clearInterval.

In the above examples, the clearTimeout and clearInterval functions are used to prevent the execution of the scheduled code.

Practical Applications of Timing Functions

Timing functions are widely used in web development for various purposes, such as creating animations, updating UI elements, and handling user interactions. Understanding how to effectively use setTimeout and setInterval is essential for creating dynamic and responsive web applications.

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