JavaScript Number Methods
The toString() Method
toString() returns a number as a string.
All number methods can be used on any type of numbers (literals, variables, or
expressions):
Example
var x = 123;
x.toString(); // returns 123 from variable x
(123).toString(); // returns 123 from literal 123
(100 + 23).toString(); // returns 123 from expression 100 + 23
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
var x = 9.656;
x.toExponential(2); // returns 9.66e+0
x.toExponential(4); // returns 9.6560e+0
x.toExponential(6); // returns 9.656000e+0
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
var x = 9.656;
x.toFixed(0); // returns 10
x.toFixed(2); // returns 9.66
x.toFixed(4); // returns 9.6560
x.toFixed(6); // returns 9.656000
The toPrecision() Method
toPrecision() returns a string, with a number written with a specified length:
Example
var x = 9.656;
x.toPrecision(); // returns 9.656
x.toPrecision(2); // returns 9.7
x.toPrecision(4); // returns 9.656
x.toPrecision(6); // returns 9.65600
The valueOf() Method
valueOf() returns a number as a number.
Example
var x = 123;
x.valueOf(); // returns 123 from variable x
(123).valueOf(); // returns 123 from literal 123
(100 + 23).valueOf(); // returns 123 from expression 100 + 23
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); // returns 1
Number(false); // returns 0
Number("10"); // returns 10
Number(" 10"); // returns 10
Number("10 "); // returns 10
Number(" 10 "); // returns 10
Number("10.33"); // returns 10.33
Number("10,33"); // returns NaN
Number("10 33"); // returns NaN
Number("John"); // returns NaN
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("2017-09-30")); // returns 1506729600000
The Number() method above returns the number of milliseconds since
1.1.1970.
The parseInt() Method
parseInt() parses a string and returns a whole number. Spaces are allowed.
Only the first number is returned:
Example
parseInt("10"); // returns 10
parseInt("10.33"); // returns 10
parseInt("10 20 30"); // returns 10
parseInt("10 years"); // returns 10
parseInt("years 10"); // returns NaN
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"); // returns 10
parseFloat("10.33"); // returns 10.33
parseFloat("10 20 30"); // returns 10
parseFloat("10 years"); // returns 10
parseFloat("years 10"); // returns NaN
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
Example
var x = Number.MAX_VALUE;
Example
var x = Number.MIN_VALUE;
JavaScript POSITIVE_INFINITY
Example
var x = Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY;
POSITIVE_INFINITY is returned on overflow:
Example
var x = 1 / 0;
JavaScript NEGATIVE_INFINITY
Example
var x = Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
NEGATIVE_INFINITY is returned on overflow:
Example
var x = -1 / 0;
JavaScript NaN - Not a Number
Example
var 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
var x = 100 / "Apple"; // x will be NaN (Not a Number)
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
var x = 6;
var y = x.MAX_VALUE; // y becomes undefined
Array iteration methods operate on every array item.
Array.forEach()
The forEach() method calls a function (a callback function) once for each array
element.
Example
var txt = "";
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
numbers.forEach(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
txt = txt + value + "<br>";
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
The example above uses only the value parameter. The example can be
rewritten to:
Example
var txt = "";
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
numbers.forEach(myFunction);
function myFunction(value) {
txt = txt + value + "<br>";
}
Array.forEach() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or
earlier:
Array.map()
The map() method creates a new array by performing a function on each array
element.
The map() method does not execute the function for array elements without
values.
The map() method does not change the original array.
This example multiplies each array value by 2:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var numbers2 = numbers1.map(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value * 2;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
When a callback function uses only the value parameter, the index and array
parameters can be omitted:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var numbers2 = numbers1.map(myFunction);
function myFunction(value) {
return value * 2;
}
Array.map() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.filter()
The filter() method creates a new array with array elements that passes a test.
This example creates a new array from elements with a value larger than 18:
Example
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var over18 = numbers.filter(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
In the example above, the callback function does not use the index and array
parameters, so they can be omitted:
Example
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var over18 = numbers.filter(myFunction);
function myFunction(value) {
return value > 18;
}
Array.filter() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.reduce()
The reduce() method runs a function on each array element to produce (reduce
it to) a single value.
The reduce() method works from left-to-right in the array. See also
reduceRight().
The reduce() method does not reduce the original array.
This example finds the sum of all numbers in an array:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduce(myFunction);
function myFunction(total, value, index, array) {
return total + value;
}
Note that the function takes 4 arguments:
The total (the initial value / previously returned value)
The item value
The item index
The array itself
The example above does not use the index and array parameters. It can be
rewritten to:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduce(myFunction);
function myFunction(total, value) {
return total + value;
}
The reduce() method can accept an initial value:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduce(myFunction, 100);
function myFunction(total, value) {
return total + value;
}
Array.reduce() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.reduceRight()
The reduceRight() method runs a function on each array element to produce
(reduce it to) a single value.
The reduceRight() works from right-to-left in the array. See also reduce().
The reduceRight() method does not reduce the original array.
This example finds the sum of all numbers in an array:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduceRight(myFunction);
function myFunction(total, value, index, array) {
return total + value;
}
Note that the function takes 4 arguments:
The total (the initial value / previously returned value)
The item value
The item index
The array itself
The example above does not use the index and array parameters. It can be
rewritten to:
Example
var numbers1 = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var sum = numbers1.reduceRight(myFunction);
function myFunction(total, value) {
return total + value;
}
Array.reduce() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.every()
The every() method check if all array values pass a test.
This example check if all array values are larger than 18:
Example
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var allOver18 = numbers.every(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
When a callback function uses the first parameter only (value), the other
parameters can be omitted:
Example
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var allOver18 = numbers.every(myFunction);
function myFunction(value) {
return value > 18;
}
Array.every() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.some()
The some() method check if some array values pass a test.
This example check if some array values are larger than 18:
Example
var numbers = [45, 4, 9, 16, 25];
var someOver18 = numbers.some(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
Array.some() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or earlier.
Array.indexOf()
Search an array for an element value and returns its position.
Note: The first item has position 0, the second item has position 1, and so on.
Example
Search an array for the item "Apple":
var fruits = ["Apple", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
var a = fruits.indexOf("Apple");
Array.indexOf() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or
earlier.
Syntax
array.indexOf(item, start)
item Required. The item to search for.
start Optional. Where to start the search. Negative values will start at the given position cou
and search to the end.
Array.indexOf() returns -1 if the item is not found.
If the item is present more than once, it returns the position of the first
occurrence.
Array.lastIndexOf()
Array.lastIndexOf() is the same as Array.indexOf(), but searches from the end
of the array.
Example
Search an array for the item "Apple":
var fruits = ["Apple", "Orange", "Apple", "Mango"];
var a = fruits.lastIndexOf("Apple");
Array.lastIndexOf() is supported in all browsers except Internet Explorer 8 or
earlier.
Syntax
array.lastIndexOf(item, start)
item Required. The item to search for
start Optional. Where to start the search. Negative values will start at the given pos
end, and search to the beginning
Array.find()
The find() method returns the value of the first array element that passes a test
function.
This example finds (returns the value of ) the first element that is larger than
18:
Example
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25, 29];
var first = numbers.find(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
Array.find() is not supported in older browsers. The first browser versions with
full support is listed below.
Array.findIndex()
The findIndex() method returns the index of the first array element that passes
a test function.
This example finds the index of the first element that is larger than 18:
Example
var numbers = [4, 9, 16, 25, 29];
var first = numbers.findIndex(myFunction);
function myFunction(value, index, array) {
return value > 18;
}
Note that the function takes 3 arguments:
The item value
The item index
The array itself
Array.findIndex() is not supported in older browsers. The first browser versions
with full support is listed below.
JavaScript Date Object lets us work with dates:
Fri Jan 04 2019 15:28:09 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)
Year: 2019 Month: 1 Day: 4 Hours: 15 Minutes 28 Seconds: 9
Example
var d = new Date();
JavaScript Date Output
By default, JavaScript will use the browser's time zone and display a date as a
full text string:
Fri Jan 04 2019 15:28:09 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)
You will learn much more about how to display dates, later in this tutorial.
Creating Date Objects
Date objects are created with the new Date() constructor.
There are 4 ways to create a new date object:
new Date()
new Date(year, month, day, hours, minutes, seconds, milliseconds)
new Date(milliseconds)
new Date(date string)
new Date()
new Date() creates a new date object with the current date and time:
Example
var d = new Date();
Date objects are static. The computer time is ticking, but date objects are not.
new Date(year, month, ...)
new Date(year, month, ...) creates a new date object with a specified date
and time.
7 numbers specify year, month, day, hour, minute, second, and millisecond (in
that order):
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11, 24, 10, 33, 30, 0);
JavaScript counts months from 0 to 11.
January is 0. December is 11.
6 numbers specify year, month, day, hour, minute, second:
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11, 24, 10, 33, 30);
5 numbers specify year, month, day, hour, and minute:
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11, 24, 10, 33);
4 numbers specify year, month, day, and hour:
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11, 24, 10);
3 numbers specify year, month, and day:
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11, 24);
2 numbers specify year and month:
Example
var d = new Date(2018, 11);
You cannot omit month. If you supply only one parameter it will be treated as
milliseconds.
Example
var d = new Date(2018);
Previous Century
One and two digit years will be interpreted as 19xx:
Example
var d = new Date(99, 11, 24);
Example
var d = new Date(9, 11, 24);
new Date(dateString)
new Date(dateString) creates a new date object from a date string:
Example
var d = new Date("October 13, 2014 11:13:00");
Date strings are described in the next chapter.
JavaScript Stores Dates as Milliseconds
JavaScript stores dates as number of milliseconds since January 01, 1970,
00:00:00 UTC (Universal Time Coordinated).
Zero time is January 01, 1970 00:00:00 UTC.
Now the time is: 1546595889712 milliseconds past January 01, 1970
new Date(milliseconds)
new Date(milliseconds) creates a new date object as zero time plus
milliseconds:
Example
var d = new Date(0);
01 January 1970 plus 100 000 000 000 milliseconds is approximately 03 March
1973:
Example
var d = new Date(100000000000);
January 01 1970 minus 100 000 000 000 milliseconds is approximately October
31 1966:
Example
var d = new Date(-100000000000);
Example
var d = new Date(86400000);
One day (24 hours) is 86 400 000 milliseconds.
Date Methods
When a Date object is created, a number of methods allow you to operate on
it.
Date methods allow you to get and set the year, month, day, hour, minute,
second, and millisecond of date objects, using either local time or UTC
(universal, or GMT) time.
Date methods and time zones are covered in the next chapters.
Displaying Dates
JavaScript will (by default) output dates in full text string format:
Wed Mar 25 2015 05:30:00 GMT+0530 (India Standard Time)
When you display a date object in HTML, it is automatically converted to a
string, with the toString() method.
Example
d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
Same as:
d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.toString();
The toUTCString() method converts a date to a UTC string (a date display
standard).
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.toUTCString();
The toDateString() method converts a date to a more readable format:
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.toDateString();
JavaScript Get Date Methods
These methods can be used for getting information from a date object:
Method Description
getFullYear() Get the year as a four digit number (yyyy)
getMonth() Get the month as a number (0-11)
getDate() Get the day as a number (1-31)
getHours() Get the hour (0-23)
getMinutes() Get the minute (0-59)
getSeconds() Get the second (0-59)
getMilliseconds() Get the millisecond (0-999)
getTime() Get the time (milliseconds since January 1, 1970)
getDay() Get the weekday as a number (0-6)
Date.now() Get the time. ECMAScript 5.
The getTime() Method
The getTime() method returns the number of milliseconds since January 1,
1970:
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getTime();
The getFullYear() Method
The getFullYear() method returns the year of a date as a four digit number:
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getFullYear();
The getMonth() Method
The getMonth() method returns the month of a date as a number (0-11):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getMonth();
In JavaScript, the first month (January) is month number 0, so December
returns month number 11.
You can use an array of names, and getMonth() to return the month as a name:
Example
var d = new Date();
var months =
["January", "February", "March", "April", "May", "June", "July", "August", "S
eptember", "October", "November", "December"];
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = months[d.getMonth()];
The getDate() Method
The getDate() method returns the day of a date as a number (1-31):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getDate();
The getHours() Method
The getHours() method returns the hours of a date as a number (0-23):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getHours();
The getMinutes() Method
The getMinutes() method returns the minutes of a date as a number (0-59):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getMinutes();
The getSeconds() Method
The getSeconds() method returns the seconds of a date as a number (0-59):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getSeconds();
The getMilliseconds() Method
The getMilliseconds() method returns the milliseconds of a date as a number (0-
999):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getMilliseconds();
The getDay() Method
The getDay() method returns the weekday of a date as a number (0-6):
Example
var d = new Date();
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d.getDay();
In JavaScript, the first day of the week (0) means "Sunday", even if some
countries in the world consider the first day of the week to be "Monday"
You can use an array of names, and getDay() to return the weekday as a name:
Example
var d = new Date();
var days =
["Sunday", "Monday", "Tuesday", "Wednesday", "Thursday", "Friday", "Saturday"
];
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = days[d.getDay()];
UTC Date Methods
UTC date methods are used for working with UTC dates (Universal Time Zone
dates):
Method Description
getUTCDate() Same as getDate(), but returns the UTC date
getUTCDay() Same as getDay(), but returns the UTC day
getUTCFullYear() Same as getFullYear(), but returns the UTC year
getUTCHours() Same as getHours(), but returns the UTC hour
getUTCMilliseconds() Same as getMilliseconds(), but returns the UTC milliseconds
getUTCMinutes() Same as getMinutes(), but returns the UTC minutes
getUTCMonth() Same as getMonth(), but returns the UTC month
getUTCSeconds() Same as getSeconds(), but returns the UTC seconds
The setFullYear() Method
The setFullYear() method sets the year of a date object. In this example to
2020:
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setFullYear(2020);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setFullYear() method can optionally set month and day:
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setFullYear(2020, 11, 3);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setMonth() Method
The setMonth() method sets the month of a date object (0-11):
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setMonth(11);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setDate() Method
The setDate() method sets the day of a date object (1-31):
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setDate(20);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setDate() method can also be used to add days to a date:
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setDate(d.getDate() + 50);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
If adding days, shifts the month or year, the changes are handled automatically
by the Date object.
The setHours() Method
The setHours() method sets the hours of a date object (0-23):
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setHours(22);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setMinutes() Method
The setMinutes() method sets the minutes of a date object (0-59):
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setMinutes(30);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
The setSeconds() Method
The setSeconds() method sets the seconds of a date object (0-59):
Example
<script>
var d = new Date();
d.setSeconds(30);
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = d;
</script>
Compare Dates
Dates can easily be compared.
The following example compares today's date with January 14, 2100:
Example
var today, someday, text;
today = new Date();
someday = new Date();
someday.setFullYear(2100, 0, 14);
if (someday > today) {
text = "Today is before January 14, 2100.";
} else {
text = "Today is after January 14, 2100.";
}
document.getElementById("demo").innerHTML = text;
JavaScript counts months from 0 to 11. January is 0. December is 11.
JavaScript Math Object
The JavaScript Math object allows you to perform mathematical tasks on
numbers.
Example
Math.PI; // returns 3.141592653589793
Math.round()
Math.round(x) returns the value of x rounded to its nearest integer:
Example
Math.round(4.7); // returns 5
Math.round(4.4); // returns 4
Math.pow()
Math.pow(x, y) returns the value of x to the power of y:
Example
Math.pow(8, 2); // returns 64
Math.sqrt()
Math.sqrt(x) returns the square root of x:
Example
Math.sqrt(64); // returns 8
Math.abs()
Math.abs(x) returns the absolute (positive) value of x:
Example
Math.abs(-4.7); // returns 4.7
Math.ceil()
Math.ceil(x) returns the value of x rounded up to its nearest integer:
Example
Math.ceil(4.4); // returns 5
Math.floor()
Math.floor(x) returns the value of x rounded down to its nearest integer:
Example
Math.floor(4.7); // returns 4
Math.sin()
Math.sin(x) returns the sine (a value between -1 and 1) of the angle x (given in
radians).
If you want to use degrees instead of radians, you have to convert degrees to
radians:
Angle in radians = Angle in degrees x PI / 180.
Example
Math.sin(90 * Math.PI / 180); // returns 1 (the sine of 90 degrees)
Math.cos()
Math.cos(x) returns the cosine (a value between -1 and 1) of the angle x (given
in radians).
If you want to use degrees instead of radians, you have to convert degrees to
radians:
Angle in radians = Angle in degrees x PI / 180.
Example
Math.cos(0 * Math.PI / 180); // returns 1 (the cos of 0 degrees)
Math.min() and Math.max()
Math.min() and Math.max() can be used to find the lowest or highest value in a
list of arguments:
Example
Math.min(0, 150, 30, 20, -8, -200); // returns -200
Example
Math.max(0, 150, 30, 20, -8, -200); // returns 150
Math.random()
Math.random() returns a random number between 0 (inclusive), and 1
(exclusive):
Example
Math.random(); // returns a random number
Math Properties (Constants)
JavaScript provides 8 mathematical constants that can be accessed with the
Math object:
Example
Math.E // returns Euler's number
Math.PI // returns PI
Math.SQRT2 // returns the square root of 2
Math.SQRT1_2 // returns the square root of 1/2
Math.LN2 // returns the natural logarithm of 2
Math.LN10 // returns the natural logarithm of 10
Math.LOG2E // returns base 2 logarithm of E
Math.LOG10E // returns base 10 logarithm of E
Math Constructor
Unlike other global objects, the Math object has no constructor. Methods and
properties are static.
All methods and properties (constants) can be used without creating a Math
object first.
Math Object Methods
Method Description
abs(x) Returns the absolute value of x
acos(x) Returns the arccosine of x, in radians
asin(x) Returns the arcsine of x, in radians
atan(x) Returns the arctangent of x as a numeric value between -PI/2 and PI/2
atan2(y, x) Returns the arctangent of the quotient of its arguments
ceil(x) Returns the value of x rounded up to its nearest integer
cos(x) Returns the cosine of x (x is in radians)
exp(x) Returns the value of Ex
floor(x) Returns the value of x rounded down to its nearest integer
log(x) Returns the natural logarithm (base E) of x
max(x, y, z, ..., n) Returns the number with the highest value
min(x, y, z, ..., n) Returns the number with the lowest value
pow(x, y) Returns the value of x to the power of y
random() Returns a random number between 0 and 1
round(x) Returns the value of x rounded to its nearest integer
sin(x) Returns the sine of x (x is in radians)
sqrt(x) Returns the square root of x
tan(x) Returns the tangent of an angle
