Python time.sleep(): How to Add Delays in Your Code (Example)

What Is Python Sleep?

The time.sleep() function pauses the execution of your Python script for a specified number of seconds. It is part of the standard time module and is useful when you need to wait for an external process, simulate latency, or simply delay output.

In this guide you’ll learn:

• How time.sleep() works and its syntax
• Practical examples of using time.sleep()
• Ways to delay function execution
• Alternative delay methods: asyncio.sleep(), Event().wait(), and Timer

Syntax

import time

# Pause for seconds seconds
# Example: time.sleep(5)  # pauses for 5 seconds

Parameters

seconds – A float or integer indicating how many seconds the program should pause. Fractions of a second are supported.

Example: Basic Use of time.sleep()

Follow these steps to see the delay in action:

1. import time
2. Add time.sleep(5) where you want the pause.

import time
print("Welcome to Python Tutorials")
time.sleep(5)
print("This message appears after a 5‑second pause")

Output

Welcome to Python Tutorials
This message appears after a 5‑second pause

Delaying a Function Call

Sometimes you need a delay before a function runs. Place time.sleep() before calling the function:

import time

print('Execution started')

def display():
    print('Welcome to Python Tutorials')
    time.sleep(5)

display()
print('Function executed with delay')

Output

Execution started
Welcome to Python Tutorials
Function executed with delay

Other Ways to Introduce Delays

1. Using time.sleep() in a Loop

Print each character of a string with a 1‑second pause:

import time
message = "Guru99"
for char in message:
    print(char)
    time.sleep(1)

2. Asynchronous Delay with asyncio.sleep()

From Python 3.4 onward, use asyncio.sleep() for non‑blocking delays:

import asyncio

print('Async execution started')

async def display():
    await asyncio.sleep(5)
    print('Welcome to Python Tutorials')

asyncio.run(display())

3. Threading Event Wait

The Event().wait() method halts execution for a given number of seconds:

from threading import Event

print('Event wait started')

def display():
    print('Welcome to Python Tutorials')

Event().wait(5)
display()

4. Threading Timer

A Timer schedules a function to run after a delay:

from threading import Timer

print('Timer started')

def display():
    print('Welcome to Python Tutorials')

Timer(5, display).start()

Key Takeaways

• Use time.sleep() to pause execution for a precise duration.
• For non‑blocking delays in async code, use asyncio.sleep().
• Threading tools like Event().wait() and Timer offer alternative delay mechanisms.
• Choose the method that best fits your application’s concurrency model.