What is debouncing in event handling?

What is debouncing in event handling?

Debouncing is a programming technique used to limit the rate at which a function is executed. It's commonly used in event handling to prevent a function from being called too frequently, such as during window resizing or scrolling.

Can you give me an example of where debouncing is useful?

Sure! A common example is in search input fields. When a user types, debouncing can delay the search function until the user stops typing for a specified time, reducing the number of API calls.

How do I implement debouncing in JavaScript?

You can implement debouncing in JavaScript using a simple function that sets a timeout. Here's a basic example:

function debounce(func, delay) {
    let timeout;
    return function(...args) {
        clearTimeout(timeout);
        timeout = setTimeout(() => func.apply(this, args), delay);
    };
}

This function will ensure that func is only called after delay milliseconds have passed since the last time it was invoked.

Are there any libraries that can help with debouncing?

Yes, libraries like Lodash provide a built-in debounce function that you can use to simplify the implementation. You can install it via npm and use it directly in your project.