I found JavaScript setTimeout and setInterval functions quite handy for timer like functionality and some time wish I could use that in C# too. In an earlier post I create a C# like timer functionality in JavaScript. Now, I want to do opposite i.e. implement JavaScript setTimeout and setInterval like functionality in C#.

This is can be done very easily using Lamda expressions and Timer. Look at the below utility class -

using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
namespace DailyCoding.EasyTimer
{
    public static class EasyTimer
    {
        public static IDisposable SetInterval(Action method, int delayInMilliseconds)
        {
            System.Timers.Timer timer = new System.Timers.Timer(delayInMilliseconds);
            timer.Elapsed += (source, e) =>
            {
                method();
            };
            timer.Enabled = true;
            timer.Start();
            // Returns a stop handle which can be used for stopping
            // the timer, if required
            return timer as IDisposable;
        }
        public static IDisposable SetTimeout(Action method, int delayInMilliseconds)
        {
            System.Timers.Timer timer = new System.Timers.Timer(delayInMilliseconds);
            timer.Elapsed += (source, e) =>
            {
                method();
            };
            timer.AutoReset = false;
            timer.Enabled = true;
            timer.Start();
            // Returns a stop handle which can be used for stopping
            // the timer, if required
            return timer as IDisposable;
        }
    }
}

To use setTimeout this you can simply do -

EasyTimer.SetTimeout(() =>
{
    // --- You code here ---
    // This piece of code will once after 1000 ms delay
}, 1000);

The code will run after 1000 ms delay similarly like JavaScript setTimeout. The function also returns a handle. If you want clearTimeout like functionality, then the simply dispose off the handle.

var stopHandle = EasyTimer.SetTimeout(() =>
{
    // --- You code here ---
    // This piece of code will once after 1000 ms
}, 1000);
// In case you want to clear the timeout
stopHandle.Dispose();

Similarly you can use setInterval as -

EasyTimer.SetInterval(() =>
{
    // --- You code here ---
    // This piece of code will run after every 1000 ms
}, 1000);

and SetInterval also returns a stop handle which you can use for clearInterval like functionality. Just dispose off the handle -

var stopHandle = EasyTimer.SetInterval(() =>
    {
        // --- You code here ---
        // This piece of code will run after every 1000 ms
        // To stop the timer, just dispose off the stop handle
    }, 1000);
// In case you want to clear the interval
stopHandle.Dispose();