Run javascript function when user finishes typing instead of on key up?

Late answer but I'm adding it because it's 2019 and this is entirely achievable using pretty ES6, no third party libraries, and I find most of the highly rated answers are bulky and weighed down with too many variables.

Elegant solution taken from this excellent blog post.

function debounce(callback, wait) {
  let timeout;
  return (...args) => {
      clearTimeout(timeout);
      timeout = setTimeout(function () { callback.apply(this, args); }, wait);
  };
}

window.addEventListener('keyup', debounce( () => {
    // code you would like to run 1000ms after the keyup event has stopped firing
    // further keyup events reset the timer, as expected
}, 1000))

It's just one line with underscore.js debounce function:

$('#my-input-box').keyup(_.debounce(doSomething , 500));

This basically says doSomething 500 milliseconds after I stop typing.

For more info: http://underscorejs.org/#debounce

The chosen answer above does not work.

Because typingTimer is occassionaly set multiple times (keyup pressed twice before keydown is triggered for fast typers etc.) then it doesn't clear properly.

The solution below solves this problem and will call X seconds after finished as the OP requested. It also no longer requires the redundant keydown function. I have also added a check so that your function call won't happen if your input is empty.

//setup before functions
var typingTimer;                //timer identifier
var doneTypingInterval = 5000;  //time in ms (5 seconds)

//on keyup, start the countdown
$('#myInput').keyup(function(){
    clearTimeout(typingTimer);
    if ($('#myInput').val()) {
        typingTimer = setTimeout(doneTyping, doneTypingInterval);
    }
});

//user is "finished typing," do something
function doneTyping () {
    //do something
}

And the same code in vanilla JavaScript solution:

//setup before functions
let typingTimer;                //timer identifier
let doneTypingInterval = 5000;  //time in ms (5 seconds)
let myInput = document.getElementById('myInput');

//on keyup, start the countdown
myInput.addEventListener('keyup', () => {
    clearTimeout(typingTimer);
    if (myInput.value) {
        typingTimer = setTimeout(doneTyping, doneTypingInterval);
    }
});

//user is "finished typing," do something
function doneTyping () {
    //do something
}

This solution does use ES6 but it's not necessary here. Just replace let with var and the arrow function with a regular function.

So, I'm going to guess finish typing means you just stop for a while, say 5 seconds. So with that in mind, let's start a timer when the user releases a key and clear it when they press one. I decided the input in question will be #myInput.

Making a few assumptions...

//setup before functions
var typingTimer;                //timer identifier
var doneTypingInterval = 5000;  //time in ms, 5 seconds for example
var $input = $('#myInput');

//on keyup, start the countdown
$input.on('keyup', function () {
  clearTimeout(typingTimer);
  typingTimer = setTimeout(doneTyping, doneTypingInterval);
});

//on keydown, clear the countdown 
$input.on('keydown', function () {
  clearTimeout(typingTimer);
});

//user is "finished typing," do something
function doneTyping () {
  //do something
}