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# timeoutInterval

The request’s timeout interval, in seconds.

```
var timeoutInterval: TimeInterval { get set }
```

## Discussion

If during a connection attempt the request remains idle for longer than the timeout interval, the request is considered to have timed out. The default timeout interval is 60 seconds.

As a general rule, you should not use short timeout intervals. Instead, you should provide an easy way for the user to cancel a long-running operation. For more information, read [Designing for Real-World Networks](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/NetworkingInternetWeb/Conceptual/NetworkingOverview/WhyNetworkingIsHard/WhyNetworkingIsHard.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010220-CH13) in [Networking Overview](https://developer.apple.com/library/archive/documentation/NetworkingInternetWeb/Conceptual/NetworkingOverview/Introduction/Introduction.html#//apple_ref/doc/uid/TP40010220).

### Special considerations

In iOS versions prior to iOS 6, the minimum (and default) timeout interval for any request containing a request body was 240 seconds.

---

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