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How to make a static variable in JavaScript like we do in c ? ( to avoid re-initialization of the variable)

I watched this video on https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cjIswDCKgu0&t=429s YouTube;
I just wanted to make a simple debounce function. but this code does not work on my device as intended. Please help.
let debounceTimes = 0;
// this code does not work as intended
let timeout; // if I make it global it works just fine
// but I don't want to do that for obvious reasons
function debounce(cb, delay = 100) {
// let timeout; // this is being reinitialized
// only if I could do something like this
// static timeout;
// to avoid re-initializing the variable
// return (...args) => {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
cb();
}, delay);
// }
}
window.addEventListener("mousemove", () => {
// console.log("hello");
// document.getElementById("debounce").innerText++;
debounce(
() => {
debounceTimes++;
document.getElementById("debounce").innerText = String(debounceTimes);
}, 100);
});

A good pattern in JS when you want a variable to be private to a function, but yet outside its scope, is to use closures and IIFE:
const debounce = (function() {
let debounceTimes = 0;
let timeout; // if I make it global it works just fine
// but I don't want to do that for obvious reasons
return (cb, delay = 100) => {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
cb();
console.log("Count:", debounceTimes)
debounceTimes++
}, delay);
}
})()
window.onmousemove = () => debounce(() => console.log("Debounced"),200)

In this example, it is not possible, since when the event is triggered it just runs the debounce function which creates the variable inside. To avoid re-initializing the variable you can:
Create variable in the global scope
Create another function that returns the debounce function(so the timeout is hidden in function scope)
let debounceTimes = 0;
function getDebounce() {
let timeout;
function debounce(cb, delay = 100) {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
cb();
}, delay);
}
return debounce;
}
const debounce = getDebounce();
window.addEventListener('mousemove', () => {
debounce(() => {
debounceTimes++;
document.getElementById('debounce').innerText = String(debounceTimes);
}, 100);
});

I ended up making a class with static method and variables since it was similar to the c++ ways of doing things. but I like #Tomasz Staszkiewicz 's answer better. He made another function inside the function to achieve this.
class ignoreInput {
static #timeout;
static debounce (cb, delay = 100) {
clearTimeout(this.timeout);
this.timeout = setTimeout(() => {
cb();
}
, delay);
}
static throttle (cb, delay = 100) {
// some code
}
};

As i see you dont use timeout variable out of debounce function, then try it as parameter of debounce function...
let debounceTimes = 0;
// this code does not work as intended
// if I make it global it works just fine
// but I don't want to do that for obvious reasons
function debounce(timeout, cb, delay = 100) {
// let timeout; // this is being reinitialized
// only if I could do something like this
// static timeout;
// to avoid re-initializing the variable
// return (...args) => {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
cb();
}, delay);
// }
}
window.addEventListener("mousemove", () => {
// console.log("hello");
// document.getElementById("debounce").innerText++;
debounce(
() => {
debounceTimes++;
document.getElementById("debounce").innerText = String(debounceTimes);
}, 100);
});
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Why do I have to use a high order function as first argument in setTimeout?

I have the following code:
HTML:
<button class="clickMe">Click Me</button>
JS:
const clickMe = document.querySelector('.clickMe');
const debounce = (fn, delay) => {
let timeoutId;
return function(...args) {
if(timeoutId) {
clearTimeout(timeoutId);
}
timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
fn(...args)
}, delay)
}
}
clickMe.addEventListener('click', debounce((e) => {
console.log('clicked')
}, 300));
On this line:
timeoutId = setTimeout(() => {
fn(...args)
}, delay)
I've tried to pass the fn(...args) directly in like this:
timeoutId = setTimeout(fn(...args), delay)
But that doesn't work. Why is that we need a higher order function that returns that inner function here?

Actually you don't need that wrapping up of your function call inside another anonymous function. You can make use of the following syntax :-
timeoutId = setTimeout(func, delay,...args);
Also that's not a higher order function. A higher order function can either accept a function as argument or return a function or do both. You can say setTimeout is a higher order function.
For more info on this syntax, look up - https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope/setTimeout

Adding Cooldown to Event Listener with JavaScript

In a JavaScript function, I have this code:
clicker1.addEventListener("click", nextImage, true);
The problem is that when the button with this event is clicked rapidly, it causes errors.
I need to make it so once the button is clicked there, is a delay where the click event doesn't run the function.

The pattern you are looking for is called throttling.
Here's an example implementation of a throttle function:
const throttle = (func, limit) => {
let lastFunc
let lastRan
return function() {
const context = this
const args = arguments
if (!lastRan) {
func.apply(context, args)
lastRan = Date.now()
} else {
clearTimeout(lastFunc)
lastFunc = setTimeout(function() {
if ((Date.now() - lastRan) >= limit) {
func.apply(context, args)
lastRan = Date.now()
}
}, limit - (Date.now() - lastRan))
}
}
}
The function gets the function to be throttled as an argument, along with a limit argument which is the interval in milliseconds until the next function call is permitted.
It returns another function which executes the provided function in the specified interval.
You use it like this:
clicker1.addEventListener("click", throttle(nextImage, 1000), true);
So now, if somebody "spam clicks" your clicker button, the nextImage function is only executed every second.
Note: If you use Lodash, you can use its own throttle implementation _.throttle.

How about disabling the button for a short while using setTimeout. In this example, the button is disabled for 2000 ms.
function myFunction() {
console.log('clicked !!');
document.getElementById("myButton").disabled = true;
setTimeout(function(){
document.getElementById("myButton").disabled = false;
},2000);
}
<button onClick="myFunction()" id="myButton">Press me</button>

SetTimeout Executing faster then assigned interval

I have assigned 5000 ms to Settimeout but it is executing before assigned time interval.Can any body explain why it is happening.
<script type="text/javascript">
var getcallback = {
closure: function (callback, functionparam) {
return callback.call(functionparam);
}
}
var cleartimeout;
var startSlideShow = {
timerid: 5000,
startAnimation: function () {
cleartimeout = setTimeout(getcallback.closure(function () {
alert("this is a basic example of chaining methods");
this.startAnimation();
},this), this.timerid);
},
stopAnimation:function(){
}
}
startSlideShow.startAnimation();
</script>

Because getcallback.closure() is executing the function right away, you are not storing a reference to a function to call at a later time.

As soon as you call startAnimation, you're calling getcallback.closure, which immediately calls the callback function. To use setTimeout correctly, you need to either have closure return a function, or not use such a strange thing, and instead just use an anonymous function.
Something along the lines of:
var getcallback = {
closure: function (callback, functionparam) {
return function() {
callback.call(functionparam);
};
}
}
...
Or, to be cleaner, just:
var cleartimeout;
var startSlideShow = {
timerid: 5000,
startAnimation: function () {
cleartimeout = setTimeout(function () {
alert("this is a basic example of chaining methods");
this.startAnimation();
}, this.timerid);
},
stopAnimation:function(){
}
}
startSlideShow.startAnimation();

How to delay the .keyup() handler until the user stops typing?

I’ve got a search field. Right now it searches for every keyup. So if someone types “Windows”, it will make a search with AJAX for every keyup: “W”, “Wi”, “Win”, “Wind”, “Windo”, “Window”, “Windows”.
I want to have a delay, so it only searches when the user stops typing for 200 ms.
There is no option for this in the keyup function, and I have tried setTimeout, but it didn’t work.
How can I do that?

I use this small function for the same purpose, executing a function after the user has stopped typing for a specified amount of time or in events that fire at a high rate, like resize:
function delay(callback, ms) {
var timer = 0;
return function() {
var context = this, args = arguments;
clearTimeout(timer);
timer = setTimeout(function () {
callback.apply(context, args);
}, ms || 0);
};
}
// Example usage:
$('#input').keyup(delay(function (e) {
console.log('Time elapsed!', this.value);
}, 500));
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
<label for="input">Try it:
<input id="input" type="text" placeholder="Type something here..."/>
</label>
How it works:
The delay function will return a wrapped function that internally handles an individual timer, in each execution the timer is restarted with the time delay provided, if multiple executions occur before this time passes, the timer will just reset and start again.
When the timer finally ends, the callback function is executed, passing the original context and arguments (in this example, the jQuery's event object, and the DOM element as this).
UPDATE 2019-05-16
I have re-implemented the function using ES5 and ES6 features for modern environments:
function delay(fn, ms) {
let timer = 0
return function(...args) {
clearTimeout(timer)
timer = setTimeout(fn.bind(this, ...args), ms || 0)
}
}
The implementation is covered with a set of tests.
For something more sophisticated, give a look to the jQuery Typewatch plugin.

If you want to search after the type is done use a global variable to hold the timeout returned from your setTimout call and cancel it with a clearTimeout if it hasn't yet happend so that it won't fire the timeout except on the last keyup event
var globalTimeout = null;
$('#id').keyup(function(){
if(globalTimeout != null) clearTimeout(globalTimeout);
globalTimeout =setTimeout(SearchFunc,200);
}
function SearchFunc(){
globalTimeout = null;
//ajax code
}
Or with an anonymous function :
var globalTimeout = null;
$('#id').keyup(function() {
if (globalTimeout != null) {
clearTimeout(globalTimeout);
}
globalTimeout = setTimeout(function() {
globalTimeout = null;
//ajax code
}, 200);
}

Another slight enhancement on CMS's answer. To easily allow for separate delays, you can use the following:
function makeDelay(ms) {
var timer = 0;
return function(callback){
clearTimeout (timer);
timer = setTimeout(callback, ms);
};
};
If you want to reuse the same delay, just do
var delay = makeDelay(250);
$(selector1).on('keyup', function() {delay(someCallback);});
$(selector2).on('keyup', function() {delay(someCallback);});
If you want separate delays, you can do
$(selector1).on('keyup', function() {makeDelay(250)(someCallback);});
$(selector2).on('keyup', function() {makeDelay(250)(someCallback);});

You could also look at underscore.js, which provides utility methods like debounce:
var lazyLayout = _.debounce(calculateLayout, 300);
$(window).resize(lazyLayout);

Explanation
Use a variable to store the timeout function. Then use clearTimeout() to clear this variable of any active timeout functions, and then use setTimeout() to set the active timeout function again. We run clearTimeout() first, because if a user is typing "hello", we want our function to run shortly after the user presses the "o" key (and not once for each letter).
Working Demo
Super simple approach, designed to run a function after a user has finished typing in a text field...
$(document).ready(function(e) {
var timeout;
var delay = 2000; // 2 seconds
$('.text-input').keyup(function(e) {
$('#status').html("User started typing!");
if(timeout) {
clearTimeout(timeout);
}
timeout = setTimeout(function() {
myFunction();
}, delay);
});
function myFunction() {
$('#status').html("Executing function for user!");
}
});
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.3.1/jquery.min.js"></script>
Status: <span id="status">Default Status</span><br>
<textarea name="text-input" class="text-input"></textarea>

Based on the answer of CMS, I made this :
Put the code below after include jQuery :
/*
* delayKeyup
* http://code.azerti.net/javascript/jquery/delaykeyup.htm
* Inspired by CMS in this post : http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1909441/jquery-keyup-delay
* Written by Gaten
* Exemple : $("#input").delayKeyup(function(){ alert("5 secondes passed from the last event keyup."); }, 5000);
*/
(function ($) {
$.fn.delayKeyup = function(callback, ms){
var timer = 0;
$(this).keyup(function(){
clearTimeout (timer);
timer = setTimeout(callback, ms);
});
return $(this);
};
})(jQuery);
And simply use like this :
$('#input').delayKeyup(function(){ alert("5 secondes passed from the last event keyup."); }, 5000);
Careful : the $(this) variable in the function passed as a parameter does not match input

jQuery:
var timeout = null;
$('#input').keyup(function() {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
console.log($(this).val());
}, 1000);
});
<script src="https://cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.2.4/jquery.min.js"></script>
<input type="text" id="input" placeholder="Type here..."/>
Pure Javascript:
let input = document.getElementById('input');
let timeout = null;
input.addEventListener('keyup', function (e) {
clearTimeout(timeout);
timeout = setTimeout(function () {
console.log('Value:', input.value);
}, 1000);
});
<input type="text" id="input" placeholder="Type here..."/>

Delay Multi Function Calls using Labels
This is the solution i work with. It will delay the execution on ANY function you want. It can be the keydown search query, maybe the quick click on previous or next buttons ( that would otherwise send multiple request if quickly clicked continuously , and be not used after all). This uses a global object that stores each execution time, and compares it with the most current request.
So the result is that only that last click / action will actually be called, because those requests are stored in a queue, that after the X milliseconds is called if no other request with the same label exists in the queue!
function delay_method(label,callback,time){
if(typeof window.delayed_methods=="undefined"){window.delayed_methods={};}
delayed_methods[label]=Date.now();
var t=delayed_methods[label];
setTimeout(function(){ if(delayed_methods[label]!=t){return;}else{ delayed_methods[label]=""; callback();}}, time||500);
}
You can set your own delay time ( its optional, defaults to 500ms). And send your function arguments in a "closure fashion".
For example if you want to call the bellow function:
function send_ajax(id){console.log(id);}
To prevent multiple send_ajax requests, you delay them using:
delay_method( "check date", function(){ send_ajax(2); } ,600);
Every request that uses the label "check date" will only be triggered if no other request is made in the 600 miliseconds timeframe. This argument is optional
Label independency (calling the same target function) but run both:
delay_method("check date parallel", function(){send_ajax(2);});
delay_method("check date", function(){send_ajax(2);});
Results in calling the same function but delay them independently because of their labels being different

If someone like to delay the same function, and without external variable he can use the next script:
function MyFunction() {
//Delaying the function execute
if (this.timer) {
window.clearTimeout(this.timer);
}
this.timer = window.setTimeout(function() {
//Execute the function code here...
}, 500);
}

This function extends the function from Gaten's answer a bit in order to get the element back:
$.fn.delayKeyup = function(callback, ms){
var timer = 0;
var el = $(this);
$(this).keyup(function(){
clearTimeout (timer);
timer = setTimeout(function(){
callback(el)
}, ms);
});
return $(this);
};
$('#input').delayKeyup(function(el){
//alert(el.val());
// Here I need the input element (value for ajax call) for further process
},1000);
http://jsfiddle.net/Us9bu/2/

I'm surprised that nobody mention the problem with multiple input in CMS's very nice snipped.
Basically, you would have to define delay variable individually for each input. Otherwise if sb put text to first input and quickly jump to other input and start typing, callback for the first one WON'T be called!
See the code below I came with based on other answers:
(function($) {
/**
* KeyUp with delay event setup
*
* #link http://stackoverflow.com/questions/1909441/jquery-keyup-delay#answer-12581187
* #param function callback
* #param int ms
*/
$.fn.delayKeyup = function(callback, ms){
$(this).keyup(function( event ){
var srcEl = event.currentTarget;
if( srcEl.delayTimer )
clearTimeout (srcEl.delayTimer );
srcEl.delayTimer = setTimeout(function(){ callback( $(srcEl) ); }, ms);
});
return $(this);
};
})(jQuery);
This solution keeps setTimeout reference within input's delayTimer variable. It also passes reference of element to callback as fazzyx suggested.
Tested in IE6, 8(comp - 7), 8 and Opera 12.11.

This worked for me where I delay the search logic operation and make a check if the value is same as entered in text field. If value is same then I go ahead and perform the operation for the data related to search value.
$('#searchText').on('keyup',function () {
var searchValue = $(this).val();
setTimeout(function(){
if(searchValue == $('#searchText').val() && searchValue != null && searchValue != "") {
// logic to fetch data based on searchValue
}
else if(searchValue == ''){
// logic to load all the data
}
},300);
});

Delay function to call up on every keyup.
jQuery 1.7.1 or up required
jQuery.fn.keyupDelay = function( cb, delay ){
if(delay == null){
delay = 400;
}
var timer = 0;
return $(this).on('keyup',function(){
clearTimeout(timer);
timer = setTimeout( cb , delay );
});
}
Usage: $('#searchBox').keyupDelay( cb );

From ES6, one can use arrow function syntax as well.
In this example, the code delays keyup event for 400ms after users finish typeing before calling searchFunc make a query request.
const searchbar = document.getElementById('searchBar');
const searchFunc = // any function
// wait ms (milliseconds) after user stops typing to execute func
const delayKeyUp = (() => {
let timer = null;
const delay = (func, ms) => {
timer ? clearTimeout(timer): null
timer = setTimeout(func, ms)
}
return delay
})();
searchbar.addEventListener('keyup', (e) => {
const query = e.target.value;
delayKeyUp(() => {searchFunc(query)}, 400);
})
Updated Typescript version:
const delayKeyUp = (() => {
let timer: NodeJS.Timeout;
return (func: Function, ms: number) => {
timer ? clearTimeout(timer) : null;
timer = setTimeout(() => func(), ms);
};
})();

This is a solution along the lines of CMS's, but solves a few key issues for me:
Supports multiple inputs, delays can run concurrently.
Ignores key events that didn't changed the value (like Ctrl, Alt+Tab).
Solves a race condition (when the callback is executed and the value already changed).
var delay = (function() {
var timer = {}
, values = {}
return function(el) {
var id = el.form.id + '.' + el.name
return {
enqueue: function(ms, cb) {
if (values[id] == el.value) return
if (!el.value) return
var original = values[id] = el.value
clearTimeout(timer[id])
timer[id] = setTimeout(function() {
if (original != el.value) return // solves race condition
cb.apply(el)
}, ms)
}
}
}
}())
Usage:
signup.key.addEventListener('keyup', function() {
delay(this).enqueue(300, function() {
console.log(this.value)
})
})
The code is written in a style I enjoy, you may need to add a bunch of semicolons.
Things to keep in mind:
A unique id is generated based on the form id and input name, so they must be defined and unique, or you could adjust it to your situation.
delay returns an object that's easy to extend for your own needs.
The original element used for delay is bound to the callback, so this works as expected (like in the example).
Empty value is ignored in the second validation.
Watch out for enqueue, it expects milliseconds first, I prefer that, but you may want to switch the parameters to match setTimeout.
The solution I use adds another level of complexity, allowing you to cancel execution, for example, but this is a good base to build on.

Combining CMS answer with Miguel's one yields a robust solution allowing concurrent delays.
var delay = (function(){
var timers = {};
return function (callback, ms, label) {
label = label || 'defaultTimer';
clearTimeout(timers[label] || 0);
timers[label] = setTimeout(callback, ms);
};
})();
When you need to delay different actions independently, use the third argument.
$('input.group1').keyup(function() {
delay(function(){
alert('Time elapsed!');
}, 1000, 'firstAction');
});
$('input.group2').keyup(function() {
delay(function(){
alert('Time elapsed!');
}, 1000, '2ndAction');
});

Building upon CMS's answer here's new delay method which preserves 'this' in its usage:
var delay = (function(){
var timer = 0;
return function(callback, ms, that){
clearTimeout (timer);
timer = setTimeout(callback.bind(that), ms);
};
})();
Usage:
$('input').keyup(function() {
delay(function(){
alert('Time elapsed!');
}, 1000, this);
});

If you want to do something after a period of time and reset that timer after a specific event like keyup, the best solution is made with clearTimeout and setTimeout methods:
// declare the timeout variable out of the event listener or in the global scope
var timeout = null;
$(".some-class-or-selector-to-bind-event").keyup(function() {
clearTimeout(timout); // this will clear the recursive unneccessary calls
timeout = setTimeout(() => {
// do something: send an ajax or call a function here
}, 2000);
// wait two seconds
});

Use
mytimeout = setTimeout( expression, timeout );
where expression is the script to run and timeout is the time to wait in milliseconds before it runs - this does NOT hault the script, but simply delays execution of that part until the timeout is done.
clearTimeout(mytimeout);
will reset/clear the timeout so it does not run the script in expression (like a cancel) as long as it has not yet been executed.

Based on the answer of CMS, it just ignores the key events that doesn't change value.
var delay = (function(){
var timer = 0;
return function(callback, ms){
clearTimeout (timer);
timer = setTimeout(callback, ms);
};
})();
var duplicateFilter=(function(){
var lastContent;
return function(content,callback){
content=$.trim(content);
if(content!=lastContent){
callback(content);
}
lastContent=content;
};
})();
$("#some-input").on("keyup",function(ev){
var self=this;
delay(function(){
duplicateFilter($(self).val(),function(c){
//do sth...
console.log(c);
});
}, 1000 );
})

User lodash javascript library and use _.debounce function
changeName: _.debounce(function (val) {
console.log(val)
}, 1000)

Use the bindWithDelay jQuery plugin:
element.bindWithDelay(eventType, [ eventData ], handler(eventObject), timeout, throttle)

var globalTimeout = null;
$('#search').keyup(function(){
if(globalTimeout != null) clearTimeout(globalTimeout);
globalTimeout =setTimeout(SearchFunc,200);
});
function SearchFunc(){
globalTimeout = null;
console.log('Search: '+$('#search').val());
//ajax code
};

Here is a suggestion I have written that takes care of multiple input in your form.
This function gets the Object of the input field, put in your code
function fieldKeyup(obj){
// what you want this to do
} // fieldKeyup
This is the actual delayCall function, takes care of multiple input fields
function delayCall(obj,ms,fn){
return $(obj).each(function(){
if ( typeof this.timer == 'undefined' ) {
// Define an array to keep track of all fields needed delays
// This is in order to make this a multiple delay handling
function
this.timer = new Array();
}
var obj = this;
if (this.timer[obj.id]){
clearTimeout(this.timer[obj.id]);
delete(this.timer[obj.id]);
}
this.timer[obj.id] = setTimeout(function(){
fn(obj);}, ms);
});
}; // delayCall
Usage:
$("#username").on("keyup",function(){
delayCall($(this),500,fieldKeyup);
});

Take a look at the autocomplete plugin. I know that it allows you to specify a delay or a minimum number of characters. Even if you don't end up using the plugin, looking through the code will give you some ideas on how to implement it yourself.

Well, i also made a piece of code for limit high frequency ajax request cause by Keyup / Keydown. Check this out:
https://github.com/raincious/jQueue
Do your query like this:
var q = new jQueue(function(type, name, callback) {
return $.post("/api/account/user_existed/", {Method: type, Value: name}).done(callback);
}, 'Flush', 1500); // Make sure use Flush mode.
And bind event like this:
$('#field-username').keyup(function() {
q.run('Username', this.val(), function() { /* calling back */ });
});

Saw this today a little late but just want to put this here in case someone else needed. just separate the function to make it reusable. the code below will wait 1/2 second after typing stop.
var timeOutVar
$(selector).on('keyup', function() {
clearTimeout(timeOutVar);
timeOutVar= setTimeout(function(){ console.log("Hello"); }, 500);
});

// Get an global variable isApiCallingInProgress
// check isApiCallingInProgress
if (!isApiCallingInProgress) {
// set it to isApiCallingInProgress true
isApiCallingInProgress = true;
// set timeout
setTimeout(() => {
// Api call will go here
// then set variable again as false
isApiCallingInProgress = false;
}, 1000);
}