deadline_timer

Typedef for the typical usage of timer. Uses a UTC clock.

typedef basic_deadline_timer< boost::posix_time::ptime > deadline_timer;

Types

Name	Description
duration_type	The duration type.
implementation_type	The underlying implementation type of I/O object.
service_type	The type of the service that will be used to provide I/O operations.
time_type	The time type.
traits_type	The time traits type.

Member Functions

Name	Description
async_wait	Start an asynchronous wait on the timer.
basic_deadline_timer	Constructor. Constructor to set a particular expiry time as an absolute time. Constructor to set a particular expiry time relative to now.
cancel	Cancel any asynchronous operations that are waiting on the timer.
expires_at	Get the timer's expiry time as an absolute time. Set the timer's expiry time as an absolute time.
expires_from_now	Get the timer's expiry time relative to now. Set the timer's expiry time relative to now.
get_io_service	Get the io_service associated with the object.
io_service	(Deprecated: use get_io_service().) Get the io_service associated with the object.
wait	Perform a blocking wait on the timer.

Protected Data Members

Name	Description
implementation	The underlying implementation of the I/O object.
service	The service associated with the I/O object.

The basic_deadline_timer class template provides the ability to perform a blocking or asynchronous wait for a timer to expire.

A deadline timer is always in one of two states: "expired" or "not expired". If the wait() or async_wait() function is called on an expired timer, the wait operation will complete immediately.

Most applications will use the boost::asio::deadline_timer typedef.

Thread Safety

Distinct objects: Safe.

Shared objects: Unsafe.

Examples

Performing a blocking wait:

// Construct a timer without setting an expiry time.
boost::asio::deadline_timer timer(io_service);

// Set an expiry time relative to now.
timer.expires_from_now(boost::posix_time::seconds(5));

// Wait for the timer to expire.
timer.wait();

Performing an asynchronous wait:

void handler(const boost::system::error_code& error)
{
  if (!error)
  {
    // Timer expired.
  }
}

...

// Construct a timer with an absolute expiry time.
boost::asio::deadline_timer timer(io_service,
    boost::posix_time::time_from_string("2005-12-07 23:59:59.000"));

// Start an asynchronous wait.
timer.async_wait(handler);

Changing an active deadline_timer's expiry time

Changing the expiry time of a timer while there are pending asynchronous waits causes those wait operations to be cancelled. To ensure that the action associated with the timer is performed only once, use something like this: used:

void on_some_event()
{
  if (my_timer.expires_from_now(seconds(5)) > 0)
  {
    // We managed to cancel the timer. Start new asynchronous wait.
    my_timer.async_wait(on_timeout);
  }
  else
  {
    // Too late, timer has already expired!
  }
}

void on_timeout(const boost::system::error_code& e)
{
  if (e != boost::asio::error::operation_aborted)
  {
    // Timer was not cancelled, take necessary action.
  }
}

The boost::asio::basic_deadline_timer::expires_from_now() function cancels any pending asynchronous waits, and returns the number of asynchronous waits that were cancelled. If it returns 0 then you were too late and the wait handler has already been executed, or will soon be executed. If it returns 1 then the wait handler was successfully cancelled.
If a wait handler is cancelled, the boost::system::error_code passed to it contains the value boost::asio::error::operation_aborted.

Requirements

Header: boost/asio/deadline_timer.hpp

Convenience header: boost/asio.hpp