settimeout executes multiple times

Question

On button click I am calling Ajax function after every 3min

intervalId = setTimeout(function(){ searchSiteDetailViaAjax() }, 180000);

and on stop button I am stopping this

clearTimeout(intervalId);
intervalId = null;

initially for few time it works fine but then after executing the clearTimeout the timer calls the Ajax function again and again.

Answer 1

It sounds like you want to be working with setInterval() and clearInterval() . setTimeout() only runs once, and you said you'd like it to run every 3 minutes, and you'll want to use setInterval() for that.

setInterval MDN: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope/setInterval

clearInterval MDN: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/API/WindowOrWorkerGlobalScope/clearInterval

Answer 2

Sounds like you may need to call clearTimeout(intervalId); on click, prior to your setTimeout call.

It sounds like what is happening is that you queue a function to be executed and by clicking the button again you queue another execution and receive a different handle. Clicking the stop button will not longer be able to clear the previous handles which causes your multiple executions.