What is the difference between debouncing and throttling?

Can you explain the difference between debouncing and throttling?

Sure! Debouncing and throttling are both techniques used to control the rate at which a function is executed.

How does debouncing work?

Debouncing ensures that a function is only called after a certain period of inactivity. For example, if you type in a search box, the function to fetch results will only trigger after you've stopped typing for a specified time.

And what about throttling?

Throttling, on the other hand, limits the number of times a function can be called over a specific time period. For instance, if you scroll a webpage, throttling would ensure that the scroll event handler runs at most once every 100 milliseconds.

When should I use one over the other?

Use debouncing when you want to wait for a pause in activity, like in search inputs. Use throttling when you want to ensure a function runs at regular intervals, like during scrolling.