JSFiddle - React, Tailwind, and code Playground

HTML

<button class="play">play</button>
<button class="pause">pause</button>
<div class="divafter"></div>

JavaScript

var playstatus;
(function($){
    playing = function() {
        return setInterval(function() {
           $(".divafter").after("playing <br/>");
           }, 500);
    };
    
})(jQuery);

$(".play").click(function(){
    playstatus = playing();
});
$(".pause").click(function(){
   clearInterval(playstatus);
});