How can I debounce a method call?

Swift 3 version

1. Basic debounce function

func debounce(interval: Int, queue: DispatchQueue, action: @escaping (() -> Void)) -> () -> Void {
    var lastFireTime = DispatchTime.now()
    let dispatchDelay = DispatchTimeInterval.milliseconds(interval)

    return {
        lastFireTime = DispatchTime.now()
        let dispatchTime: DispatchTime = DispatchTime.now() + dispatchDelay

        queue.asyncAfter(deadline: dispatchTime) {
            let when: DispatchTime = lastFireTime + dispatchDelay
            let now = DispatchTime.now()
            if now.rawValue >= when.rawValue {
                action()
            }
        }
    }
}

2. Parameterized debounce function

Sometimes it's useful to be have the debounce function take a parameter.

typealias Debounce<T> = (_ : T) -> Void

func debounce<T>(interval: Int, queue: DispatchQueue, action: @escaping Debounce<T>) -> Debounce<T> {
    var lastFireTime = DispatchTime.now()
    let dispatchDelay = DispatchTimeInterval.milliseconds(interval)

    return { param in
        lastFireTime = DispatchTime.now()
        let dispatchTime: DispatchTime = DispatchTime.now() + dispatchDelay

        queue.asyncAfter(deadline: dispatchTime) {
            let when: DispatchTime = lastFireTime + dispatchDelay
            let now = DispatchTime.now()

            if now.rawValue >= when.rawValue {
                action(param)
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Example

In the following example you can see, how the debouncing works, using a string parameter to identify the calls.

let debouncedFunction = debounce(interval: 200, queue: DispatchQueue.main, action: { (identifier: String) in
    print("called: \(identifier)")
})

DispatchQueue.global(qos: .background).async {
    debouncedFunction("1")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("2")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("3")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("4")
    usleep(300 * 1000) // waiting a bit longer than the interval
    debouncedFunction("5")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("6")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("7")
    usleep(300 * 1000) // waiting a bit longer than the interval
    debouncedFunction("8")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("9")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("10")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("11")
    usleep(100 * 1000)
    debouncedFunction("12")
}

Note: The usleep() function is only used for demo purposes and may not be the most elegant solution for a real app.

Result

You always get a callback, when there is an interval of at least 200ms since the last call.

called: 4
called: 7
called: 12

If you like to keep things clean, here's a GCD based solution that can do what you need using familiar GCD based syntax: https://gist.github.com/staminajim/b5e89c6611eef81910502db2a01f1a83

DispatchQueue.main.asyncDeduped(target: self, after: 0.25) { [weak self] in
     self?.findPlaces()
}

findPlaces() will only get called one time, 0.25 seconds after the last call to asyncDuped.

Here's an option for those not wanting to create classes/extensions:

Somewhere in your code:

var debounce_timer:Timer?

And in places you want to do the debounce:

debounce_timer?.invalidate()
debounce_timer = Timer.scheduledTimer(withTimeInterval: 1.0, repeats: false) { _ in 
    print ("Debounce this...") 
}