What are the best practices for setting timeouts in programming?

What are the best practices for setting timeouts in programming?

When setting timeouts, consider the context of your application. A good practice is to set a timeout that is long enough to allow for normal operation but short enough to avoid hanging indefinitely.

How do I determine the right timeout duration?

The right timeout duration often depends on the specific operation. For example, network requests might need 30 seconds, while database queries could be set to 10 seconds.

What happens if I set the timeout too short?

If the timeout is too short, you risk interrupting legitimate operations, leading to errors and a poor user experience.

Are there any tools to help manage timeouts?

Yes, many programming languages and frameworks offer built-in timeout management tools, such as promises in JavaScript or timeout settings in HTTP libraries.