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JavaScript Number Methods

Number methods help you work with numbers

Number Methods and Properties

Primitive values (like 3.14 or 2014), cannot have properties and methods (because they are not objects).

But with JavaScript, methods and properties are also available to primitive values, because JavaScript treats primitive values as objects when executing methods and properties.

The toString() Method

The toString() method returns a number as a string.

All number methods can be used on any type of numbers (literals, variables, or expressions):

Example

let x = 123;
x.toString();
(123).toString();
(100 + 23).toString();

The toExponential() Method

toExponential() returns a string, with a number rounded and written using exponential notation.

A parameter defines the number of characters behind the decimal point:

Example

let x = 9.656;
x.toExponential(2);
x.toExponential(4);
x.toExponential(6);

The parameter is optional. If you don't specify it, JavaScript will not round the number.

The toFixed() Method

toFixed() returns a string, with the number written with a specified number of decimals:

Example

let x = 9.656;
x.toFixed(0);
x.toFixed(2);
x.toFixed(4);
x.toFixed(6);

toFixed(2) is perfect for working with money.

The toPrecision() Method

toPrecision() returns a string, with a number written with a specified length:

Example

let x = 9.656;
x.toPrecision();
x.toPrecision(2);
x.toPrecision(4);
x.toPrecision(6);

The valueOf() Method

valueOf() returns a number as a number.

Example

let x = 123;
x.valueOf();
(123).valueOf();
(100 + 23).valueOf();

In JavaScript, a number can be a primitive value (typeof = number) or an object (typeof = object).

The valueOf() method is used internally in JavaScript to convert Number objects to primitive values.

There is no reason to use it in your code.

All JavaScript data types have a valueOf() and a toString() method.

Converting Variables to Numbers

There are 3 JavaScript methods that can be used to convert variables to numbers:

  • The Number() method
  • The parseInt() method
  • The parseFloat() method

    • These methods are not number methods, but global JavaScript methods.

    Global JavaScript Methods

    JavaScript global methods can be used on all JavaScript data types.

    These are the most relevant methods, when working with numbers:

    Method Description
    Number() Returns a number, converted from its argument.
    parseFloat() Parses its argument and returns a floating point number
    parseInt() Parses its argument and returns an integer

    The Number() Method

    Number() can be used to convert JavaScript variables to numbers:

    Example

    Number(true);
    Number(false);
    Number("10");
    Number("  10");
    Number("10  ");
    Number(" 10  ");
    Number("10.33");
    Number("10,33");
    Number("10 33");
    Number("John");

    If the number cannot be converted, NaN (Not a Number) is returned.

    The Number() Method Used on Dates

    Number() can also convert a date to a number.

    Example

    Number(new Date("1970-01-01"))

    The Number() method returns the number of milliseconds since 1.1.1970.

    The number of milliseconds between 1970-01-02 and 1970-01-01 is 86400000:

    Example

    Number(new Date("1970-01-02"))

    Example

    Number(new Date("2017-09-30"))

    The parseInt() Method

    parseInt() parses a string and returns a whole number. Spaces are allowed. Only the first number is returned:

    Example

    parseInt("-10");
    parseInt("-10.33");
    parseInt("10");
    parseInt("10.33");
    parseInt("10 20 30");
    parseInt("10 years");
    parseInt("years 10");

    If the number cannot be converted, NaN (Not a Number) is returned.

    The parseFloat() Method

    parseFloat() parses a string and returns a number. Spaces are allowed. Only the first number is returned:

    Example

    parseFloat("10");
    parseFloat("10.33");
    parseFloat("10 20 30");
    parseFloat("10 years");
    parseFloat("years 10");

    If the number cannot be converted, NaN (Not a Number) is returned.

    Number Properties

    Property Description
    MAX_VALUE Returns the largest number possible in JavaScript
    MIN_VALUE Returns the smallest number possible in JavaScript
    POSITIVE_INFINITY Represents infinity (returned on overflow)
    NEGATIVE_INFINITY Represents negative infinity (returned on overflow)
    NaN Represents a "Not-a-Number" value

    JavaScript MIN_VALUE and MAX_VALUE

    MAX_VALUE returns the largest possible number in JavaScript.

    Example

    let x = Number.MAX_VALUE;
    MIN_VALUE returns the lowest possible number in JavaScript.

    Example

    let x = Number.MIN_VALUE;

    JavaScript POSITIVE_INFINITY

    Example

    let x = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
    POSITIVE_INFINITY is returned on overflow:

    Example

    let x = 1 / 0;

    JavaScript NEGATIVE_INFINITY

    Example

    let x = Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
    NEGATIVE_INFINITY is returned on overflow:

    Example

    let x = -1 / 0;

    JavaScript NaN - Not a Number

    Example

    let x = Number.NaN;
    NaN is a JavaScript reserved word indicating that a number is not a legal number.

    Trying to do arithmetic with a non-numeric string will result in NaN (Not a Number):

    Example

    let x = 100 / "Apple";

    Try it Yourself »

    Number Properties Cannot be Used on Variables

    Number properties belongs to the JavaScript's number object wrapper called Number.

    These properties can only be accessed as Number.MAX_VALUE.

    Using myNumber.MAX_VALUE, where myNumber is a variable, expression, or value, will return undefined:

    Example

    let x = 6;
    x.MAX_VALUE

    Complete JavaScript Number Reference

    For a complete Number reference, visit our:

    Complete JavaScript Number Reference.

    The reference contains descriptions and examples of all Number properties and methods.

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