Countdown Timer Tutorial setTimeout clearTimeout
Learn to program JavaScript countdown scripts that will update your HTML page when the timer reaches zero. We use a custom function that utilizes setTimeout and clearTimeout to start the countdown, as well as making it shut off when the countdown reaches 0 and updating the page.
<script>
function countDown(secs,elem) {
var element = document.getElementById(elem);
element.innerHTML = "Please wait for "+secs+" seconds";
if(secs < 1) {
clearTimeout(timer);
element.innerHTML = '<h2>Countdown Complete!</h2>';
element.innerHTML += '<a href="#">Click here now</a>';
}
secs--;
var timer = setTimeout('countDown('+secs+',"'+elem+'")',1000);
}
</script>
<div id="status"></div>
<script>countDown(10,"status");</script>