Delay onmouseover javascript

Question

im new to most web dev stuff so im kindly asking you for some support. i have an image map in which i have assigned several areas triggering different contents in a separate div. i would now like to add a delay to the onmouseover trigger so that the content in the div is only updated if the user positions the curser on the area instead of accidentally hovering over it.

this is the js i use for toggling the div contents:

function showHideDivs(indx){
hideDivs();
oShowHideDivs[indx].style.display = 'block';
}

function hideDivs(){
for(i=0; i < oShowHideDivs.length; i++){
    oShowHideDivs[i].style.display = 'none';
}
}

window.onload=function(){
oShowHideDivs = document.getElementById('container').getElementsByTagName('div');
var oMap = document.getElementById('myMap');
for(i=0; i < oMap.areas.length; i++){
    oMap.areas[i].indx = i;
    oMap.areas[i].onmouseover=function(){
        showHideDivs(this.indx);
    }
  }
}

so how do i implement the delay and where? thx in advance! jan

EDIT: i used this approach now:

oMap.areas[i].onmouseover=function(){
var area=this;
var delay=setTimeout(function(){showHideDivs(area.indx);},100);
area.onmouseout=function(){clearTimeout(delay);};
}

seemed the easiest to me. thx for the hint!

Answer 1

The easiest way is to include a timeout on mouseover, and clear it on mouseout.

oMap.areas[i].onmouseover=function(){
    var area=this;
    var delay=setTimeout(function(){showHideDivs(area.indx);},100);
    area.onmouseout=function(){clearTimeout(delay);};
}

For more complex scenarios, use a plugin like hoverintent.