Timeout
A limit on how long to wait for an action or response before marking the wait as ended without a confirmed result.
On this page
Source content checked . English translation published 2026-10-27.
In business automation
A timeout prevents an indefinite wait, but it does not prove that the other system did not perform the action. After a timeout, check the status or retry in a way that prevents duplicates.
Examples
These examples illustrate a possible workflow. Adapt the connections and rules to your own systems.
Business process example
Creating a document takes longer than the configured time. The workflow saves the request ID and checks whether the document was created before retrying, instead of immediately generating a duplicate.
Relevant tools
- n8n
- Timeouts can be configured for some actions; plan the path to take after expiration as well.
What to check
- Distinguish the wait time for an HTTP request, execution duration, and expiration of a human approval. Each has a different business outcome.