Execute settimeout early

Question

I am using debouncing to execute events after a timeout using settimeout. The problem I have, is that other javascript events expect those events to occur synchronously. Since they are now executing after a timeout, I'd like to be able to trigger them prematurely by other javascript events (so those events requiring them won't fail).

Anywhom, if I do something like:

timeout = setTimeout(function() { alert('hi'); }, 10000);

, and I want that to occur before 10 seconds passes, how can I do that?

The solution can involve jquery if necessary. Thanks!

Edit: Is it possible to do this with just access to the timeout object?

Answer 1

So, if you make whatever you're delaying its own function:

function sayHi() {
    alert('hi');
}

You can use a timeout and a regular function call:

var timeout = setTimeout(sayHi, 10000); // say hi after 10 seconds

Or to call it before the timeout expires, just call the function whenever you need to:

sayHi();

Am I on the right track here? If you need to cancel the timeout, call clearTimeout() on your timeout variable.

if (timeout)
    clearTimeout(timeout);