# pause

## Purpose

Halt execution temporarily.

## Synopsis

    pause
    pause(n)
    pause on
    pause off

## Description

`pause` causes M-files to stop and wait for you to press any key before continuing.

`pause(n)` pauses for `n` seconds before continuing.

`pause` `off` indicates that any subsequent `pause` or `pause(n)` commands do not actually pause. This allows normally interactive scripts to run unattended.

`pause` `on` indicates that subsequent pause commands do pause.

## Examples

An important use of`pause` is to halt M-files temporarily when graphics commands are encountered. If `pause` is not used, the graphics may not be visible. An example of this is

    for n = 3:22
        mesh(magic(n))
        pause
    end

(c) Copyright 1994 by The MathWorks, Inc.