How to Delay for 1-30 Seconds using JavaScript/Python Code Step

* Use at your own discretion!

Contribution by Troy Tessalone

Premier Certified Zapier Expert at Automation Ace.

OVERVIEW

Zapier implemented these constraints for the Delay Zap app.

• Minimal Delay: From January 13, 2025, the shortest delay you can set for a Zap is 1 minute. 
• Automatic Adjustments: If you have any existing Zaps with delays shorter than 1 minute, they will automatically adjusted to 1 minute to prevent any performance impact.

Info: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/33303435847821-Enhance-delay-functionality-for-seamless-workflows

LIMITS

Why 30 seconds MAX?

Zapier has rate limits of 30 seconds MAX for these plans: Professional, Team

Info: https://help.zapier.com/hc/en-us/articles/29971850476173-Code-by-Zapier-rate-limits

PYTHON

Python Code for how to delay between 1-30 seconds.

CODE

import time
import random

# Inputs for minimum and maximum delay time
min_delay = min(int(input_data.get("min", 1)), 29)  # Default to 1 second
max_delay = min(int(input_data.get("max", 29)), 29)  # Use 29 if max exceeds it

# Randomly select a delay time within the range
delay_time = random.randint(min_delay, max_delay)

# Perform the delay
time.sleep(delay_time)

# Output the delay time and the range used
output = {
    "message": f"Delayed for {delay_time} seconds.",
    "min_delay": min_delay,
    "max_delay": max_delay,
    "actual_delay": delay_time,
}

output

JAVASCRIPT

JavaScript Code for how to delay between 1-30 seconds.

CODE

// Retrieve dynamic inputs
const minSeconds = Math.max(parseInt(inputData.min, 10) || 1, 1); // Default to 1 second if not provided or invalid
const maxSeconds = Math.min(parseInt(inputData.max, 10) || 29, 29); // Default to 29 seconds if not provided or invalid

// Ensure minSeconds does not exceed maxSeconds
const adjustedMin = Math.min(minSeconds, maxSeconds);

// Generate a random delay time between adjustedMin and maxSeconds
const delaySeconds = Math.floor(Math.random() * (maxSeconds - adjustedMin + 1)) + adjustedMin;

// Function to introduce a delay using a blocking loop
function delay(seconds) {
    const startTime = new Date().getTime();
    while (new Date().getTime() - startTime < seconds * 1000) {
        // Busy-wait for the specified number of seconds
    }
}

// Execute the delay function
delay(delaySeconds);

// Return a message indicating the delay is complete
return { message: `Delay completed: ${delaySeconds} seconds.` };