# Delay
URL: /reference/blocks/system-delay
Type: reference
Description: Pause the workflow before continuing. Top-level delays use durable execution and may run for minutes; delays inside a loop are short (≤30s).
Keywords: delay, system/delay, system, block, workflow builder
`system/delay` — Pause the workflow before continuing. Top-level delays use durable execution and may run for minutes; delays inside a loop are short (≤30s).

Where it appears [#where-it-appears]

The **Delay** block lives in the **Logic & control** group of the Workflow Builder.

Fields [#fields]

| Field     | Type                       | Required | Default | Description                                                                                                                                                                       |
| --------- | -------------------------- | -------- | ------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `delayMs` | text (supports references) | Yes      | `5000`  | Delay in milliseconds. Top-level delays over 30s suspend durably via Inngest; in-loop/inline delays are capped at 30000 (30s). Accepts a number or a \<NodeName.field> reference. |

Inputs and outputs [#inputs-and-outputs]

Inputs are the configurable fields above. The block produces these outputs:

**Outputs**

Reference an output downstream with `<Delay.field>`.

| Name      | Type    | Description                                                                                                                                  |
| --------- | ------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| `success` | boolean | Whether the delay completed                                                                                                                  |
| `delayMs` | number  | Effective delay in milliseconds. Inline/in-loop delays are clamped to 0–30000; top-level durable delays reflect the full requested duration. |

Example [#example]

A minimal configuration for this block:

```json
{
  "type": "system/delay",
  "config": {
    "delayMs": "5000"
  }
}
```

Limits and failure modes [#limits-and-failure-modes]

* Required field (`delayMs`) must be set, or the block fails validation before it runs.

Related [#related]

* [All workflow blocks](/reference/blocks)
* [Workflow Builder overview](/workflow-builder-overview)