How Can I Run a JavaScript Function at Regular Intervals?

Techniques for Running a function at regular intervals

In certain scenarios, the need arises to execute a function at a predetermined time interval. The setTimeout() function provides a straightforward method to achieve this:

setTimeout(function, 60000);

This code snippet will trigger the execution of the provided function after a delay of 60 seconds. However, if the requirement is to repeatedly invoke the function at fixed intervals, a different approach is necessary.

setInterval() for Concurrent Execution

If the execution time of the function is not a concern and can exceed the specified interval, the setInterval() function is a viable option:

setInterval(function, delay)

This method ensures that the function will be called repeatedly at the specified delay.

Encapsulating Execution with setTimeout()

A more robust approach, which guarantees that the function's execution time does not exceed the interval, involves utilizing setTimeout() together with a self-executing anonymous function:

(function(){
    // Perform desired actions
    setTimeout(arguments.callee, 60000);
})();

This approach ensures that subsequent calls to the function are not initiated until the previous execution has completed. The arguments.callee reference is deprecated in ECMAScript 5 and can be replaced with a named function for clarity.

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