Call function with setInterval in jQuery?

To write the best code, you "should" use the latter approach, with a function reference:

var refreshId = setInterval(function() {}, 5000);

or

function test() {}
var refreshId = setInterval(test, 5000);

but your approach of

function test() {}
var refreshId = setInterval("test()", 5000);

is basically valid, too (as long as test() is global).

Note that there is no such thing really as "in jQuery". You're still writing the Javascript language; you're just using some pre-made functions that are the jQuery library.


First of all: Yes you can mix jQuery with common JS :)

Best way to build up an intervall call of a function is to use setTimeout methode:

For example, if you have a function called test() and want to repeat it all 5 seconds, you could build it up like this:

function test(){
    console.log('test called');
    setTimeout(test, 5000);
}

Finally you have to trigger the function once:

$(document).ready(function(){
    test();
});

This document ready function is called automatically, after all html is loaded.