[java] java: run a function after a specific number of seconds

I have a specific function that I want to be executed after 5 seconds. How can i do that in Java?

I found javax.swing.timer, but I can't really understand how to use it. It looks like I'm looking for something way simpler then this class provides.

Please add a simple usage example.

This question is related to java timer

The answer is


Your original question mentions the "Swing Timer". If in fact your question is related to SWing, then you should be using the Swing Timer and NOT the util.Timer.

Read the section from the Swing tutorial on "How to Use Timers" for more information.


All other unswers require to run your code inside a new thread. In some simple use cases you may just want to wait a bit and continue execution within the same thread/flow.

Code below demonstrates that technique. Keep in mind this is similar to what java.util.Timer does under the hood but more lightweight.

import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
public class DelaySample {
    public static void main(String[] args) {
       DelayUtil d = new DelayUtil();
       System.out.println("started:"+ new Date());
       d.delay(500);
       System.out.println("half second after:"+ new Date());
       d.delay(1, TimeUnit.MINUTES); 
       System.out.println("1 minute after:"+ new Date());
    }
}

DelayUtil Implementation

import java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit;
import java.util.concurrent.locks.Condition;
import java.util.concurrent.locks.ReentrantLock;

public class DelayUtil {
    /** 
    *  Delays the current thread execution. 
    *  The thread loses ownership of any monitors. 
    *  Quits immediately if the thread is interrupted
    *  
    * @param duration the time duration in milliseconds
    */
   public void delay(final long durationInMillis) {
      delay(durationInMillis, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
   }

   /** 
    * @param duration the time duration in the given {@code sourceUnit}
    * @param unit
    */
    public void delay(final long duration, final TimeUnit unit) {
        long currentTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
        long deadline = currentTime+unit.toMillis(duration);
        ReentrantLock lock = new ReentrantLock();
        Condition waitCondition = lock.newCondition();

        while ((deadline-currentTime)>0) {
            try {
                lock.lockInterruptibly();    
                waitCondition.await(deadline-currentTime, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
            } catch (InterruptedException e) {
                Thread.currentThread().interrupt();
                return;
            } finally {
                lock.unlock();
            }
            currentTime = System.currentTimeMillis();
        }
    }
}

My code is as follows:

new java.util.Timer().schedule(

    new java.util.TimerTask() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            // your code here, and if you have to refresh UI put this code: 
           runOnUiThread(new   Runnable() {
                  public void run() {
                            //your code

                        }
                   });
        }
    }, 
    5000 
);

As a variation of @tangens answer: if you can't wait for the garbage collector to clean up your thread, cancel the timer at the end of your run method.

Timer t = new java.util.Timer();
t.schedule( 
        new java.util.TimerTask() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                // your code here
                // close the thread
                t.cancel();
            }
        }, 
        5000 
);

Something like this:

// When your program starts up
ScheduledExecutorService executor = Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor();

// then, when you want to schedule a task
Runnable task = ....    
executor.schedule(task, 5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);

// and finally, when your program wants to exit
executor.shutdown();

There are various other factory methods on Executor which you can use instead, if you want more threads in the pool.

And remember, it's important to shutdown the executor when you've finished. The shutdown() method will cleanly shut down the thread pool when the last task has completed, and will block until this happens. shutdownNow() will terminate the thread pool immediately.


ScheduledThreadPoolExecutor has this ability, but it's quite heavyweight.

Timer also has this ability but opens several thread even if used only once.

Here's a simple implementation with a test (signature close to Android's Handler.postDelayed()):

public class JavaUtil {
    public static void postDelayed(final Runnable runnable, final long delayMillis) {
        final long requested = System.currentTimeMillis();
        new Thread(new Runnable() {
            @Override
            public void run() {
                // The while is just to ignore interruption.
                while (true) {
                    try {
                        long leftToSleep = requested + delayMillis - System.currentTimeMillis();
                        if (leftToSleep > 0) {
                            Thread.sleep(leftToSleep);
                        }
                        break;
                    } catch (InterruptedException ignored) {
                    }
                }
                runnable.run();
            }
        }).start();
    }
}

Test:

@Test
public void testRunsOnlyOnce() throws InterruptedException {
    long delay = 100;
    int num = 0;
    final AtomicInteger numAtomic = new AtomicInteger(num);
    JavaUtil.postDelayed(new Runnable() {
        @Override
        public void run() {
            numAtomic.incrementAndGet();
        }
    }, delay);
    Assert.assertEquals(num, numAtomic.get());
    Thread.sleep(delay + 10);
    Assert.assertEquals(num + 1, numAtomic.get());
    Thread.sleep(delay * 2);
    Assert.assertEquals(num + 1, numAtomic.get());
}

public static Timer t;

public synchronized void startPollingTimer() {
        if (t == null) {
            TimerTask task = new TimerTask() {
                @Override
                public void run() {
                   //Do your work
                }
            };

            t = new Timer();
            t.scheduleAtFixedRate(task, 0, 1000);
        }
    }

you could use the Thread.Sleep() function

Thread.sleep(4000);
myfunction();

Your function will execute after 4 seconds. However this might pause the entire program...


Example of using javax.swing.Timer

Timer timer = new Timer(3000, new ActionListener() {
  @Override
  public void actionPerformed(ActionEvent arg0) {
    // Code to be executed
  }
});
timer.setRepeats(false); // Only execute once
timer.start(); // Go go go!

This code will only be executed once, and the execution happens in 3000 ms (3 seconds).

As camickr mentions, you should lookup "How to Use Swing Timers" for a short introduction.