Using node API for delay

Ever found yourself needing to pause a process in your Node.js application? Maybe for testing or just to let something else catch up? The go-to method has always been the trusty setTimeout wrapped in a promise. It’s simple and gets the job done:

await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 1000));

This snippet waits for a second before resolving to undefined. It’s straightforward, but did you know there’s a more elegant way?

Enter Node's Built-in API

Recently, I stumbled upon Node's built-in API that does the same thing, but with a bit more flair. Check this out:

import { setTimeout } from "node:timers/promises";
 
const res = await setTimeout(1000, "result");
 
console.log(res); // Prints 'result'

This method not only waits for a second but also returns a specified value, in this case, 'result'. It’s a neat little upgrade from the classic method.

Optional Parameters for More Control

The new API also allows for some optional parameters through an interface:

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