What should you use instead of a self-correcting timer for animations?
requestAnimationFrame. It syncs with the browser's refresh rate (usually 60fps) and runs before the next paint. It is smoother and more efficient than any setTimeout-based timer for visual updates.
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More FAQs in How to Build a Self-Correcting Timer in JavaScript
A timer that measures the drift (how late each tick is) and adjusts the next setTimeout delay to compensate. This keeps the interval close to the target despite setTimeout's minimum-delay behavior and event loop delays.
Because the callback itself takes time to run, the event loop may be busy, background tab throttling applies, and timer clamping adds minimum delays. These accumulate, causing drift over time.
It tracks when the next tick should fire (expected). Each tick measures the drift (Date.now() - expected). The next setTimeout delay is adjusted by the drift: interval - drift. If the drift is too large, it skips a tick to catch up.
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