Countdown Timer Tutorial setTimeout clearTimeout

Learn to program JavaScript countdown scripts that will update your HTML page when the timer reaches zero. We use a custom function that utilizes setTimeout and clearTimeout to start the countdown, as well as making it shut off when the countdown reaches 0 and updating the page.

<script>
function countDown(secs,elem) {
	var element = document.getElementById(elem);
	element.innerHTML = "Please wait for "+secs+" seconds";
	if(secs < 1) {
		clearTimeout(timer);
		element.innerHTML = '<h2>Countdown Complete!</h2>';
		element.innerHTML += '<a href="#">Click here now</a>';
	}
	secs--;
	var timer = setTimeout('countDown('+secs+',"'+elem+'")',1000);
}
</script>
<div id="status"></div>
<script>countDown(10,"status");</script>