diff --git a/content/python/concepts/time-module/terms/sleep/sleep.md b/content/python/concepts/time-module/terms/sleep/sleep.md index c3022077cb3..7d4cca047e5 100644 --- a/content/python/concepts/time-module/terms/sleep/sleep.md +++ b/content/python/concepts/time-module/terms/sleep/sleep.md @@ -1,53 +1,134 @@ --- -Title: '.sleep()' -Description: 'Suspends execution of the current thread for a given time.' +Title: 'sleep()' +Description: 'Suspends execution of the current thread for a specified number of seconds' Subjects: - 'Computer Science' + - 'Data Science' Tags: + - 'Control Flow' - 'Functions' + - 'Methods' - 'Time' CatalogContent: - 'learn-python-3' - 'paths/computer-science' --- -The **.sleep()** method suspends execution of the current [thread](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/python/threading) for a given period of time in seconds. +The **`time.sleep()`** method suspends the execution of the current [thread](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/python/threading) for a specified number of seconds. This function temporarily pauses program execution, allowing other processes to run or creating deliberate delays in code execution. + +The `time.sleep()` method is commonly used in scenarios where you need to introduce delays, such as creating timers, controlling the rate of data processing, simulating real-world delays, or implementing retry mechanisms with backoff strategies. It's particularly useful in automation scripts, web scraping applications, and programs that interact with external APIs or hardware devices. ## Syntax ```pseudo -time.sleep(duration) +time.sleep(seconds) +``` + +**Parameters:** + +- `seconds`: A positive number (integer or float) representing the number of seconds to pause execution. Float values allow for sub-second precision. + +**Return value:** + +The `time.sleep()` method does not return any value (returns `None`). + +## Example 1: Basic Sleep Implementation + +This example demonstrates the fundamental usage of `time.sleep()` to create a simple delay in program execution: + +```py +import time + +# Print message before delay +print("Starting program...") + +# Pause execution for 3 seconds +time.sleep(3) + +# Print message after delay +print("Program resumed after 3 seconds") +``` + +The output of this code is: + +```shell +Starting program... +Program resumed after 3 seconds ``` -The `duration` parameter is given in seconds, and suspends/delays execution of the thread. +The program first prints "Starting program...", then pauses for exactly 3 seconds, and finally prints the second message. -## Example +## Example 2: Creating a Simple Timer -The following example will delay execution of the next [`print()`](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/python/built-in-functions/print) statement by 2.4 seconds: +This example shows how to use `time.sleep()` to create a countdown timer, demonstrating a practical real-world application: ```py import time -print("Printed immediately.") -time.sleep(2.4) -print("Printed after 2.4 seconds.") +def countdown_timer(seconds): + """Creates a countdown timer that displays remaining time""" + for i in range(seconds, 0, -1): + print(f"Time remaining: {i} seconds") + time.sleep(1) # Wait for 1 second + print("Timer finished!") + +# Create a 5-second countdown +countdown_timer(5) ``` -The output will be: +The output of this code is: ```shell -Printed immediately. -Printed after 2.4 seconds. +Time remaining: 5 seconds +Time remaining: 4 seconds +Time remaining: 3 seconds +Time remaining: 2 seconds +Time remaining: 1 seconds +Timer finished! ``` -## Codebyte Example +This example creates a countdown that updates every second, showing how `time.sleep()` can be used to control the timing of repeated operations. + +## Codebyte Example: Automated Data Processing with Delays -The following example will output time after a 5 second delay from current time (provided by the [`.ctime()`](https://www.codecademy.com/resources/docs/python/time-module/ctime) function): +This example demonstrates using `time.sleep()` in a data processing scenario where you need to respect rate limits or simulate processing time: ```codebyte/python import time -print ("Start : %s" % time.ctime()) -time.sleep( 5 ) -print ("End : %s" % time.ctime()) +def process_data_batch(data_list, delay_seconds=2): + """Process data with delays between operations""" + print("Starting batch processing...") + + for i, item in enumerate(data_list, 1): + print(f"Processing item {i}: {item}") + + # Simulate processing time or respect API rate limits + time.sleep(delay_seconds) + + print(f"Completed processing: {item}") + + print("All items processed successfully!") + +# Example data list +items = ["user_data.json", "sales_report.csv", "inventory.xml"] + +# Process with 2-second delays between items +process_data_batch(items) ``` + +This example shows how `time.sleep()` can be used to create controlled delays in automated processes, which is essential when working with external APIs or systems that have rate limiting. + +## Frequently Asked Questions + +### 1. Can `time.sleep()` accept decimal values for sub-second delays? + +Yes, `time.sleep()` accepts both integer and float values. For example, `time.sleep(0.5)` will pause execution for half a second, and `time.sleep(0.1)` will pause for 100 milliseconds. + +### 2. Does `time.sleep()` block the entire program? + +Yes, `time.sleep()` blocks the current thread completely. In single-threaded programs, this means the entire program is paused. For non-blocking delays, consider using `asyncio.sleep()` in asynchronous programs or threading for concurrent operations. + +### 3. What happens if I pass a negative number to `time.sleep()`? + +Passing a negative number to `time.sleep()` will raise a `ValueError`. The function only accepts non-negative values.