page.waitForFunction() keeps evaluating a function in the browser page until that function returns a truthy value. Its options let you choose when Puppeteer checks the condition, how long it waits, and whether the wait can be cancelled. The documented defaults are animation-frame polling and a 30-second timeout.
What does Puppeteer waitForFunction do?
page.waitForFunction(pageFunction, options?, ...args) evaluates pageFunction in the page context until it returns a truthy value, then resolves to a handle for the returned value. Use it when readiness depends on a condition that cannot be expressed just by waiting for a selector—for example, a viewport measurement or a particular page state. The Puppeteer Page API reference documents the method in Puppeteer 25.12.0.
The function can be synchronous or asynchronous. An asynchronous function can, for example, fetch data and update the page before resolving. That capability does not make it a performance optimization; the function still needs to reach a truthy result for the wait to finish.
What are the waitForFunction options?
The options object supports polling, timeout, and an optional cancellation signal. The FrameWaitForFunctionOptions reference documents these details for Puppeteer 25.3.0; verify the API against the version installed in your project if it differs.
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| Option | Documented value or default | What it controls |
|---|---|---|
polling |
'raf' (default), 'mutation', or a number of milliseconds |
When Puppeteer reevaluates the predicate. |
timeout |
30000 ms (30 seconds); 0 disables the timeout |
The maximum time the wait may run. The default can be changed with Page.setDefaultTimeout(). |
signal |
Optional AbortSignal |
Lets your code cancel a pending wait. |
How should you choose a polling mode?
'raf': check on animation frames
This is the default. Puppeteer reevaluates the function in requestAnimationFrame callbacks. The documentation describes it as the tightest polling mode and says it is suitable for observing styling changes, such as a change that affects the rendered page. It is not established as the best choice for every condition.
'mutation': check after DOM mutations
Puppeteer reevaluates the function on DOM mutations. This can fit a predicate whose truth depends on elements or attributes changing in the DOM. It will not, by itself, check on a fixed timer; consider whether DOM changes are actually the event that can make your condition true.
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A number: check at a fixed interval
Pass a number of milliseconds to request interval-based polling. Use this when a fixed cadence matches the condition you are observing. The documentation does not provide benchmark results comparing the available modes, so choose based on what can change the predicate rather than assuming one mode is universally faster.
How do you pass options and arguments?
The options object is the second argument, and values for the page function come after it. If you have no options to set but need to pass a function argument, supply an empty object in the options position.
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const selector = '.foo';
const elementHandle = await page.waitForFunction(
selector => Boolean(document.querySelector(selector)),
{},
selector,
);Here, Puppeteer runs the predicate in the browser page context and passes selector as its argument. Without the second-argument object, the selector would occupy the options position instead of being passed to the page function.
How do you set a timeout or cancel a wait?
Set a per-call timeout
Set timeout in the options object to choose the maximum wait for this call. A timeout of 0 disables that limit. Because a wait without a timeout may remain pending indefinitely if its condition never becomes true, use a separate cancellation or task-lifecycle mechanism when disabling the timeout.
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await page.waitForFunction(
() => window.appReady === true,
{ timeout: 10000 },
);Change the default timeout
Page.setDefaultTimeout() changes the default timeout used by page waits. See the Puppeteer Page class reference for the Page API context. Set a per-call timeout when one condition needs a different limit from the rest of the page operations.
Cancel with an AbortSignal
Pass an AbortSignal when the wait should end if its surrounding task is cancelled. For example, an application can abort the controller when it no longer needs to wait:
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const controller = new AbortController();
const wait = page.waitForFunction(
() => window.appReady === true,
{ signal: controller.signal },
);
// When the surrounding task is cancelled:
controller.abort();
await wait;Handle cancellation in the surrounding control flow as appropriate for your application; do not assume an aborted wait means the page condition became true.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Common problems and fixes
- The wait times out. The predicate did not become truthy before its timeout. Check that the condition is reachable on the page, that the predicate is looking for the right state, and that the timeout is appropriate for the operation.
- The function argument is not what you expected. The options object must come before positional arguments. Use
{}when passing arguments without setting options. - The predicate misses a change. Match polling to the trigger: use animation-frame polling for frame-observed changes, mutation polling for DOM changes, or a millisecond interval for fixed-cadence checks.
- The wait never ends. Check whether your predicate can return a truthy value. Also check for
timeout: 0, which disables the wait’s timeout; use a signal or another lifecycle control if necessary. - An asynchronous predicate does not finish. Make sure the asynchronous work it awaits can complete and that the eventual return value is truthy. Asynchronous predicates are supported, but the API documentation does not promise that they are faster.
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