How do I clear this setInterval inside a function?

Question

Normally, I’d set the interval to a variable and then clear it like var the_int = setInterval(); clearInterval(the_int); but for my code to work I put it in an anonymous function:

function intervalTrigger() {
  setInterval(function() {
    if (timedCount >= markers.length) {
      timedCount = 0;
    }

    google.maps.event.trigger(markers[timedCount], "click");
    timedCount++;
  }, 5000);
};

intervalTrigger();

How do I clear this? I gave it a shot and tried var test = intervalTrigger(); clearInterval(test); to be sure, but that didn’t work.

Basically, I need this to stop triggering once my Google Map is clicked, e.g.

google.maps.event.addListener(map, "click", function() {
  //stop timer
});

score 274 · Accepted Answer · answered May 24 '10 at 23:50

274

The setInterval method returns a handle that you can use to clear the interval. If you want the function to return it, you just return the result of the method call:

function intervalTrigger() {
  return window.setInterval( function() {
    if (timedCount >= markers.length) {
       timedCount = 0;
    }
    google.maps.event.trigger(markers[timedCount], "click");
    timedCount++;
  }, 5000 );
};
var id = intervalTrigger();

Then to clear the interval:

window.clearInterval(id);

answered May 24 '10 at 23:50

Guffa

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4

note: you don't need to reference the global scope. `setInterval` works just as well as `window.setInterval`. – Samie Bencherif Jul 06 '17 at 03:37
2

It's often good practice to be explicit. Some linters will complain about implicit use of global scope, whereas `window.` is ok. – Steve Bennett Oct 29 '20 at 04:41

score 11 · Answer 2 · answered Aug 31 '12 at 11:21

// Initiate set interval and assign it to intervalListener
var intervalListener = self.setInterval(function () {someProcess()}, 1000);
function someProcess() {
  console.log('someProcess() has been called');
  // If some condition is true clear the interval
  if (stopIntervalIsTrue) {
    window.clearInterval(intervalListener);
  }
}

score 2 · Answer 3 · answered Oct 08 '13 at 11:46

2

the_int=window.clearInterval(the_int);

answered Oct 08 '13 at 11:46

Anup

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1
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37

score -4 · Answer 4 · answered Apr 27 '15 at 18:11

Simplest way I could think of: add a class.

Simply add a class (on any element) and check inside the interval if it's there. This is more reliable, customisable and cross-language than any other way, I believe.

var i = 0;
this.setInterval(function() {
  if(!$('#counter').hasClass('pauseInterval')) { //only run if it hasn't got this class 'pauseInterval'
    console.log('Counting...');
    $('#counter').html(i++); //just for explaining and showing
  } else {
    console.log('Stopped counting');
  }
}, 500);

/* In this example, I'm adding a class on mouseover and remove it again on mouseleave. You can of course do pretty much whatever you like */
$('#counter').hover(function() { //mouse enter
    $(this).addClass('pauseInterval');
  },function() { //mouse leave
    $(this).removeClass('pauseInterval');
  }
);

/* Other example */
$('#pauseInterval').click(function() {
  $('#counter').toggleClass('pauseInterval');
});

body {
  background-color: #eee;
  font-family: Calibri, Arial, sans-serif;
}
#counter {
  width: 50%;
  background: #ddd;
  border: 2px solid #009afd;
  border-radius: 5px;
  padding: 5px;
  text-align: center;
  transition: .3s;
  margin: 0 auto;
}
#counter.pauseInterval {
  border-color: red;  
}

<!-- you'll need jQuery for this. If you really want a vanilla version, ask -->
<script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/2.1.1/jquery.min.js"></script>


<p id="counter">&nbsp;</p>
<button id="pauseInterval">Pause/unpause</button></p>

How do I clear this setInterval inside a function?

4 Answers4

Simplest way I could think of: add a class.

Linked

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