What is it?

Timer.js is a periodic timer for Node.js and the browser.

Overview

Creating a Timer

A new Timer is created with either the new operator:

var timer = new Timer(resolution);

or the factory method:

var timer = Timer(resolution);

Where resolution is the tick rate of the timer. If resolution is omitted it defaults to 1000 milliseconds. resolution can be either an integer in milliseconds or a string describing the resolution such as '2 seconds' or '3 hours, 20 minutes'.

Binding and unbinding events to the Timer with bind() and unbind()

Events can be bound to the timer with the bind(when, callback) method:

timer.bind(1000 * 3, function () {}); // fire event after 3 seconds

when can also be a string describing the moment on that the event should be fired:

timer.bind('3 seconds', function () {});

wherein when the event is fired is limited through the timer resolution.

For unbinding unbind(callback) can be used.

Binding shortcuts every() and after()

every(when, callback) is just an alias for bind(when, callback), to make code more readable:

timer.every('2 seconds', function () {});

after(when, callback) is also binds an callback to the timer, but unbinds it automatically after the event is fired:

timer.after('5 seconds', function () {});

Instance methods

timer.start() start the timer.

timer.stop() stop the timer.

timer.reset() stops the timer and resets the tick count.

timer.clear() resets the timer and ubinds all event listeners.

timer.ticks() returns the tick count since start.

timer.resolution() returns the timer resolution in milliseconds.

timer.running() indicates if the timer is running.

timer.drift(driftAmount) Adds driftAmount milliseconds to the next event call. This should allow rudimentary syncing between different clocks.

Usage example

var timer = new Timer('100 milliseconds');

timer.every('6 seconds', function () {
    console.log('timer event every 6 seconds');
});

timer.every('1 minute, 20 seconds', function () {
    console.log('timer event every 1 minute, 20 seconds');
});

timer.start();

Valid time strings units

millisecond(s), ms, second(s), sec(s), s, minute(s), min(s), m, hour(s), hr(s), h, day(s), d