setTimeout firing function straight away and not waiting

Question

Rather than waiting 5 seconds my use of setTimeout seems to be executing straight away:

window.setTimout(getNegativeErrs(errors), 5000);

  function getNegativeErrs(ers) {
    for( i in errors ) {
      var errobj = getByValue(dataLayer, errors[i]);
      if(!errobj) {
        dataLayer.push({
          'event': 'negative_errors',
          'unseen': errors[i],
          'module': 'registration'
        })
      }
    }
  }

Must the function being passed be of a specific format? I really don't know what to edit here or where to start looking?

You are doing it wrong. Write a function expression as first argument inside of which you call your target function (with its arguments). `setTimeout(function(){foo(bar)}, 5000);` — deostroll, Aug 08 '16 at 02:27

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Aug 08 '16 at 02:48

2

Your function getNegativeErrs() is executing right away and is using its return value as the callback.

The right way:

window.setTimeout(function() {
    getNegativeErrs(errors)
    }, 5000);

  function getNegativeErrs(ers) {
    for( i in errors ) {
      var errobj = getByValue(dataLayer, errors[i]);
      if(!errobj) {
        dataLayer.push({
          'event': 'negative_errors',
          'unseen': errors[i],
          'module': 'registration'
        })
      }
    }
  }

edited Aug 08 '16 at 02:48

Doug Fir

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answered Aug 08 '16 at 02:30

Robert

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Thanks for the answer. Now I'm getting an error window.setTimout is not a function? – Doug Fir Aug 08 '16 at 02:40
Check for any mis-spellings or just try it as `setTimeout()`. – Robert Aug 08 '16 at 02:44
Yes, was a typo fixed now thank you very much – Doug Fir Aug 08 '16 at 02:48
Alrighty then. Good coding! – Robert Aug 08 '16 at 02:49
Just a fly follow up, presumably the same applies to setInterval as well as setTimeout? – Doug Fir Aug 08 '16 at 03:32
1

As regards to the callback? Yes: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WindowTimers/setInterval – Robert Aug 08 '16 at 03:33

setTimeout firing function straight away and not waiting

1 Answers1