Simple throttle in JavaScript

Question

I am looking for a simple throttle in JavaScript. I know libraries like lodash and underscore have it, but only for one function it will be overkill to include any of those libraries.

I was also checking if jQuery has a similar function - could not find.

I have found one working throttle, and here is the code:

function throttle(fn, threshhold, scope) {
  threshhold || (threshhold = 250);
  var last,
      deferTimer;
  return function () {
    var context = scope || this;

    var now = +new Date,
        args = arguments;
    if (last && now < last + threshhold) {
      // hold on to it
      clearTimeout(deferTimer);
      deferTimer = setTimeout(function () {
        last = now;
        fn.apply(context, args);
      }, threshhold);
    } else {
      last = now;
      fn.apply(context, args);
    }
  };
}

The problem with this is: it fires the function once more after the throttle time is complete. So let's assume I made a throttle that fires every 10 seconds on keypress - if I do keypress 2 times, it will still fire the second keypress when 10 seconds are completed. I do not want this behavior.

Answer 1

I would use the underscore.js or lodash source code to find a well tested version of this function.

Here is the slightly modified version of the underscore code to remove all references to underscore.js itself:

// Returns a function, that, when invoked, will only be triggered at most once
// during a given window of time. Normally, the throttled function will run
// as much as it can, without ever going more than once per `wait` duration;
// but if you'd like to disable the execution on the leading edge, pass
// `{leading: false}`. To disable execution on the trailing edge, ditto.
function throttle(func, wait, options) {
  var context, args, result;
  var timeout = null;
  var previous = 0;
  if (!options) options = {};
  var later = function() {
    previous = options.leading === false ? 0 : Date.now();
    timeout = null;
    result = func.apply(context, args);
    if (!timeout) context = args = null;
  };
  return function() {
    var now = Date.now();
    if (!previous && options.leading === false) previous = now;
    var remaining = wait - (now - previous);
    context = this;
    args = arguments;
    if (remaining <= 0 || remaining > wait) {
      if (timeout) {
        clearTimeout(timeout);
        timeout = null;
      }
      previous = now;
      result = func.apply(context, args);
      if (!timeout) context = args = null;
    } else if (!timeout && options.trailing !== false) {
      timeout = setTimeout(later, remaining);
    }
    return result;
  };
};

Please note that this code can be simplified if you don't need all the options that underscore support.

Please find below a very simple and non-configurable version of this function:

function throttle (callback, limit) {
    var waiting = false;                      // Initially, we're not waiting
    return function () {                      // We return a throttled function
        if (!waiting) {                       // If we're not waiting
            callback.apply(this, arguments);  // Execute users function
            waiting = true;                   // Prevent future invocations
            setTimeout(function () {          // After a period of time
                waiting = false;              // And allow future invocations
            }, limit);
        }
    }
}

Edit 1: Removed another reference to underscore, thx to @Zettam 's comment

Edit 2: Added suggestion about lodash and possible code simplification, thx to @lolzery @wowzery 's comment

Edit 3: Due to popular requests, I added a very simple, non-configurable version of the function, adapted from @vsync 's comment

Answer 2

What about this?

function throttle(func, timeFrame) {
  var lastTime = 0;
  return function () {
      var now = Date.now();
      if (now - lastTime >= timeFrame) {
          func();
          lastTime = now;
      }
  };
}

Simple.

You may be interested in having a look at the source.

Answer 3

callback: takes the function that should be called

limit: number of times that function should be called within the time limit

time: time span to reset the limit count

functionality and usage: Suppose you have an API that allows user to call it 10 times in 1 minute

function throttling(callback, limit, time) {
    /// monitor the count
    var calledCount = 0;

    /// refresh the `calledCount` varialbe after the `time` has been passed
    setInterval(function(){ calledCount = 0 }, time);

    /// creating a closure that will be called
    return function(){
        /// checking the limit (if limit is exceeded then do not call the passed function
        if (limit > calledCount) {
            /// increase the count
            calledCount++;
            callback(); /// call the function
        } 
        else console.log('not calling because the limit has exceeded');
    };
}
    
//////////////////////////////////////////////////////////// 
// how to use

/// creating a function to pass in the throttling function 
function cb(){
    console.log("called");
}

/// calling the closure function in every 100 milliseconds
setInterval(throttling(cb, 3, 1000), 100);