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The delay node pauses flow execution for a specified number of milliseconds. Use it for rate limiting, throttling, or simulating processing time.

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Configuration

{
  "id": "wait",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 1000
  }
}

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Config Fields

FieldTypeRequiredDefaultDescription
durationnumberYes-Delay in milliseconds (max 30000)

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Limits

  • Minimum: Must be greater than 0
  • Maximum: 30000ms (30 seconds) - values above this are capped

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Output

{
  "delayed_ms": 1000,
  "started_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z",
  "ended_at": "2024-01-15T10:30:01Z"
}
FieldTypeDescription
delayed_msnumberActual delay duration
started_atstringISO timestamp when delay started
ended_atstringISO timestamp when delay ended

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Examples

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Simple Delay

{
  "id": "wait_1s",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 1000
  }
}

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Rate Limiting

Add delay between API calls to avoid rate limits: 
[
  {
    "id": "fetch_first",
    "type": "http",
    "config": {
      "url": "https://api.example.com/data/1"
    }
  },
  {
    "id": "rate_limit_pause",
    "type": "delay",
    "config": {
      "duration": 500
    }
  },
  {
    "id": "fetch_second",
    "type": "http",
    "config": {
      "url": "https://api.example.com/data/2"
    }
  }
]

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Webhook Retry Backoff

[
  {
    "id": "retry_delay",
    "type": "delay",
    "config": {
      "duration": 2000
    }
  },
  {
    "id": "retry_webhook",
    "type": "http",
    "config": {
      "url": "{{webhook_url}}",
      "method": "POST",
      "body": "{{payload}}"
    }
  }
]

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Polling Interval

{
  "id": "poll_interval",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 5000
  }
}

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Use Cases

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API Rate Limiting

When calling external APIs with rate limits, add delays between requests: 
{
  "id": "api_throttle",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 100
  }
}

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Simulated Processing

For testing or demo purposes: 
{
  "id": "simulate_processing",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 2000
  }
}

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Debouncing

Prevent rapid repeated actions: 
{
  "id": "debounce",
  "type": "delay",
  "config": {
    "duration": 300
  }
}

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Accessing Delay Output

{{wait.output.delayed_ms}}    -> 1000
{{wait.output.started_at}}    -> "2024-01-15T10:30:00Z"
{{wait.output.ended_at}}      -> "2024-01-15T10:30:01Z"