Wait block

Configure the Wait block to pause a workflow run for a set duration, with the units it accepts and how the pause appears in the run.

The Wait block (type: "wait") pauses the run for a fixed length of time, then continues with the next step. For the plain-language guide, see Wait before continuing.

When to use it

Give a connected system time to finish processing, for example before reading back an invoice you just created.
Space out calls to a system that limits how many requests you can send.

To pause until a person decides, use the Approval block. To run at a set time, use a Schedule trigger.

Configuration

Field (`config` key)	Editor label	Type	Required	Meaning
`duration`	Duration	number	Yes	How long to wait, in `unit`. Must be a JSON number: any other value, including numeric text such as `"5"`, waits 0.
`unit`	Unit	string	Yes	`seconds` (default), `minutes`, `hours` or `days`. The executor also accepts `ms` and `milliseconds`. An unknown unit is read as seconds.

The step waits inside the running run with a timer; it is not a scheduled resume. The time counts toward the run's execution limit: one hour by default, configurable with settings.maxDurationSeconds. Checkpointed approval waits do not consume that budget. Keep waits short, and use a Schedule trigger or an Approval step for pauses measured in hours or days.

Output

Field	Type	Meaning
`completedAt`	string	ISO timestamp when the wait ended.
`durationMs`	number	The wait in milliseconds.
`waited`	number	Same as `durationMs`. Kept for older workflows; read `durationMs` instead.

Example

This workflow creates a Stripe invoice, waits 30 seconds, then reads it back.

{
  "name": "Create and confirm invoice",
  "trigger": { "type": "api" },
  "steps": [
    {
      "id": "create_invoice",
      "type": "action",
      "name": "Create invoice",
      "action": "stripe.createInvoice",
      "config": { "customerId": "{{input.customerId}}" }
    },
    {
      "id": "pause",
      "type": "wait",
      "name": "Wait 30 seconds",
      "config": { "duration": 30, "unit": "seconds" }
    },
    {
      "id": "read_back",
      "type": "action",
      "name": "Read the invoice",
      "action": "stripe.getInvoice",
      "config": { "invoiceId": "{{steps.create_invoice.id}}" }
    }
  ]
}

Errors and limits

A duration that is missing or not a number does not fail the step; it waits 0 and continues. Check the step's durationMs in the run if a pause seems to be skipped.
A wait that runs past the workflow's time limit stops the run.