Python time.sleep() Tutorial | Pause or Delay Execution in Python Scripts

In this quick and practical Python tutorial, you’ll learn how to use the time.sleep() function to delay or pause your Python programs. Whether you're building games, automating tasks, or managing scripts that require wait times, understanding how to use sleep() from Python’s time module is essential.

Perfect for beginners and intermediate programmers alike, this video will teach you how to add time delays, create countdown timers, slow down loops, and simulate loading screens.

What You’ll Learn in This Video:

What is the time.sleep() function?
How to use time.sleep(seconds) to pause execution
Sleep with whole numbers and decimal seconds
Common use cases: countdowns, rate limiting, automation delays
How time.sleep() behaves in loops and functions
Tips to avoid common mistakes

Example Code from the Video:

Basic Usage:

import time
print("Start")
time.sleep(2)
print("This prints after a 2-second delay")

Using Float Values:

time.sleep(0.5) # Pause for half a second

Countdown Example:

import time

for i in range(5, 0, -1):
 print(f"Countdown: {i}")
 time.sleep(1)
print("Go!")

Simulating Loading:

print("Loading", end="")
for \_ in range(3):
 time.sleep(1)
 print(".", end="")
print("\nDone!")

Why Use time.sleep()?

* Introduce delays between operations
* Rate-limit API requests
* Simulate real-time behavior in games or CLI tools
* Give users time to read output
* Add realism in tutorials, prompts, or animations

Important Notes:

* time.sleep() halts the entire thread; avoid in performance-critical tasks
* For asynchronous code, consider asyncio.sleep() instead

Useful Links:

Python Official Docs – time module: [https://docs.python.org/3/library/time.html](https://docs.python.org/3/library/time.html)
Real Python – Python time.sleep() Guide: [https://realpython.com/python-sleep/](https://realpython.com/python-sleep/)

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Would you like a follow-up video on using sleep() in multi-threading or asynchronous contexts like asyncio?