Delay Step

This function block delays the incoming signal by one execution step. It outputs the previous value received on the Input socket and updates its internal memory with the current input for the next run. Use this block when you need a one-step lag in signal processing or to break immediate feedback loops.

📥 Inputs

Input — Generic input signal to be delayed. Accepts any data type.

📤 Outputs

Output — The value provided at the previous execution step. On the very first run this may be empty (no previous value).

🕹️ Controls

No interactive controls or widgets for this block.

⚙️ Running mechanism

On each execution cycle the block:

• Returns the value it stored from the previous cycle via Output.

• Replaces its stored value with the current Input for use on the next cycle.

This behavior creates a stable single-step delay between input and output without modifying the signal content.

🎯 Features

• Simple, reliable one-step delay for generic data.

• Useful for creating temporal relationships between signals.

• Helps break immediate feedback loops in graphs that require sequential state updates.

📝 Usage instructions

1. Connect any signal-producing block to the Input socket.

2. Use the Output where you need the previous-step value.

3. If the first-run empty value is not acceptable, handle it with a block such as Replace None or conditionally initialize upstream data.

💡 Tips and Tricks

• Combine with Edge Rising or Edge Falling to detect transitions with one-step history for debouncing or sequence detection.

• Use with Set - Reset or Counter to build simple state machines or counting logic that requires previous-state information.

• Insert before logical blocks like And / Or when you need aligned timing between multiple signals.

• Use alongside Data Memory or Data Write Local / Data Read Local when building more complex stateful systems or when you need to preserve values across multiple steps or subsystems.

• Place before Demux / Mux or Batch Processing when delaying composite data structures to keep sequence alignment.

• If your workflow uses human toggles, pair with Logic Input to create manual step timing with one-step history.

🛠️ Troubleshooting

• Output appears empty on first run: this is expected. To avoid issues, initialize upstream data or use Replace None to substitute a default.

• Signals seem out of sync: remember that outputs are always one execution step behind inputs. Ensure other blocks in the flow are aligned or introduce additional Delay Step blocks where needed.

• Unexpected feedback loops: use this block to break immediate cycles; placing a single-step delay often resolves stability and ordering problems.