Stop MATLAB execution temporarily
collapse all in page
Syntax
pause
pause(n)
pause(state)
oldState = pause(state)
Description
pause temporarily stops MATLAB® execution and waits for the user to press any key. The pause function also temporarily stops the execution of Simulink® models, but does not pause their repainting.
Note
If you previously disabled the pause setting, reenable it using pause('on') for this call to take effect.
example
pause(n) pauses execution for n seconds before continuing. Pausing must be enabled for this call to take effect.
example
pause(state) enables, disables, or displays the current pause setting.
example
oldState = pause(state) returns the current pause setting and sets the pause state as indicated by state. For example, if pausing is enabled, oldState = pause('off') returns 'on' in oldState and disables pausing.
Examples
collapse all
Pause Execution
Pause execution for 5 seconds. MATLAB blocks, or hides, the command prompt (>>) while it pauses execution.
n = 5;pause(n)
Disable Pause Setting
Open Live Script
Disable the pause setting and query the current state.
pause('off')pause('query')
ans = 'off'
Pause execution for 100 seconds. Since the pause setting is off, MATLAB ignores the request to pause execution, and immediately returns the command prompt.
pause(100)
Enable the pause setting.
pause('on')Save and Restore Pause State
Open Live Script
Store the current pause setting and then disable the ability to pause execution.
oldState = pause('off')oldState = 'on'
Query the current pause setting.
pause('query')ans = 'off'
Restore the initial pause state.
pause(oldState)pause('query')ans = 'on'
Alternatively, you can store the queried value of the pause state and then disable the ability to pause execution.
oldState = pause('query');pause('off')
Restore the initial pause state.
pause(oldState)
Input Arguments
collapse all
n — Number of seconds
nonnegative, real number
Number of seconds to pause execution specified as a nonnegative, real number.
Typing pause(inf) puts you into an infinite loop. To return to the MATLAB prompt, type Ctrl+C.
Example: pause(3) pauses for 3 seconds.
Example: pause(5/1000) pauses for 5 milliseconds.
Data Types: single | double | int8 | int16 | int32 | int64 | uint8 | uint16 | uint32 | uint64
state — Pause setting
'on' | 'off' | 'query'
Pause control indicator specified as 'on', 'off', or 'query'. Use 'on' or 'off' to control whether the pause function is able to pause MATLAB execution. Use 'query' to query the current state of the pause setting.
To run interactive code unattended, disable the pause setting.
Tips
The accuracy of the
pausefunction is subject to the scheduling resolution of your operating system, and to other concurrent system activity. The accuracy is not guaranteed, and finer resolution results in higher relative error.While MATLAB is paused, the following continue to execute:
Repainting of figure windows, Simulink block diagrams, and Java® windows
Callbacks from figure windows
Event handling from Java windows
Extended Capabilities
C/C++ Code Generation
Generate C and C++ code using MATLAB® Coder™.
Usage notes and limitations:
The use of
pauseinparforloops is not supported for MEX code generation.The generated code truncates pause delay values to
uint32range during run-time execution.In generated standalone (
lib,dll, orexe) code, thepausesyntax with no input arguments has different behavior than in MATLAB.In MATLAB, after
pauseexecution you can press any key to continue. When running generated code from the terminal, you must press enter.If you call the generated code from MATLAB with the system command or exclamation point character, with SIL, or with PIL, input characters may not be correctly redirected from the MATLAB environment to the generated code. Therefore the generated code might not resume.
The C/C++ implementation for
pausein the generated code differs depending on the hardware settings stored in the code generation configuration object. By default, the hardware settings are configured for the host platform, withHardware Boardin the MATLAB Coder™ app set toMATLAB Host Computer.When generating code on Windows® with Windows-compatible hardware settings, the generated C/C++ implementation uses the Windows API function
Sleep.In all other cases, the implementation uses the POSIX API
nanosleep. When compiling code that uses the POSIX API, the preprocessor macro_POSIX_C_SOURCEmust be set to an integer greater than or equal to199309L. The code generator sets the macro to199309Lfor compilation.
Thread-Based Environment
Run code in the background using MATLAB® backgroundPool or accelerate code with Parallel Computing Toolbox™ ThreadPool.
This function fully supports thread-based environments. For more information, see Run MATLAB Functions in Thread-Based Environment.
Version History
Introduced before R2006a
See Also
keyboard | input | drawnow
MATLAB Command
You clicked a link that corresponds to this MATLAB command:
Run the command by entering it in the MATLAB Command Window. Web browsers do not support MATLAB commands.
Select a Web Site
Choose a web site to get translated content where available and see local events and offers. Based on your location, we recommend that you select: .
You can also select a web site from the following list:
Americas
- América Latina (Español)
- Canada (English)
- United States (English)
Europe
- Belgium (English)
- Denmark (English)
- Deutschland (Deutsch)
- España (Español)
- Finland (English)
- France (Français)
- Ireland (English)
- Italia (Italiano)
- Luxembourg (English)
- Netherlands (English)
- Norway (English)
- Österreich (Deutsch)
- Portugal (English)
- Sweden (English)
- Switzerland
- Deutsch
- English
- Français
- United Kingdom (English)
Asia Pacific
- Australia (English)
- India (English)
- New Zealand (English)
- 中国
- 日本 (日本語)
- 한국 (한국어)
Contact your local office
