正确的方法来使用JavaScript timeOut（）

Question

For example if i was to format my code as followed

<script type="text/javascript">
    var timeout;
    function auto() {
        $.ajax({
                url: "functions/ajax.php",
                data: "func=auto",
                type: "GET",
                dataType: "json",
                success: function(data){
                       $.each(data.search, function (i, v) {
                               console.log('Success ' + v);
                       });
                },
                error: function (jqXHR, textStatus, errorThrown){
                       console.log('Error ' + jqXHR);
                }
        });
     }

    function start() {
    timeout = setTimeout('auto()', 2000);
    }

    function stop(){
        clearTimeout(timeout);
}
</script>

Would it matter that my var timeout is not defined by a value ? since the actual timeout is not even processing, it's running the function auto() once, then stops

Answer 1

First off, don't use quotes in the setTimeout (I'm not sure but I believe that calls eval() ), just pass in the function by reference: setTimeout(auto, 2000) ;

Second of all, JavaScript is a dynamically typed language, which means variables don't have a fixed type, and they can change depending on the circumstances, therefore your code is perfectly valid.

Lastly, if you don't plan to abort the timeout whilst it's counting, you don't need to clear it, as it will disappear after being executed.