Delay Node
Pause workflow execution for a specified duration.
Overview
The Delay node pauses your workflow for a set amount of time before continuing to the next node. Useful for rate limiting, waiting for external processes, or adding timed intervals between operations. The delay is cancellable if the workflow is stopped.
Configuration
| Field | Description | Required |
|---|---|---|
Duration |
The length of time to pause | Yes |
Unit |
Time unit for the duration | Yes |
Time Units
| Unit | Description |
|---|---|
Milliseconds |
For very short pauses |
Seconds |
Default unit |
Minutes |
For longer waits |
Hours |
For extended delays |
Example: Rate Limiting API Calls
When calling an external API inside a For Loop, add a Delay node to avoid hitting rate limits:
For Loop → HTTP Request → Delay (1 second) → Next iteration
Example: Wait for Processing
After triggering an external job, wait before checking the result:
HTTP Request (start job) → Delay (30 seconds) → HTTP Request (check status)
Example: Scheduled Notifications
Add delays between notification batches:
Send Batch 1 → Delay (5 minutes) → Send Batch 2 → Delay (5 minutes) → Send Batch 3
Best Practices
- Use the smallest delay necessary for your use case
- Consider using Seconds as the default unit for most scenarios
- For API rate limiting, check the provider's documentation for recommended intervals
- Remember that delays count toward total workflow execution time