JS Number Methods

JavaScript 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

toString() returns a number as a string.

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

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:

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:

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

Note: toFixed(2) is perfect for working with money.

The toPrecision() Method

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

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.

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.

Note: In JavaScript, all 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 Methods

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

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

The Number() Method

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

x = true;
Number(x);        // returns 1
x = false;     
Number(x);        // returns 0
x = new Date();
Number(x);        // returns 1404568027739
x = "10"
Number(x);        // returns 10
x = "10 20"
Number(x);        // returns NaN

Note: Used on Date(), the Number() method 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:

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:

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

var x = Number.MAX_VALUE;

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:

var x = 6;
var y = x.MAX_VALUE;    // y becomes undefined

Complete JavaScript Number Reference

For a complete reference, go to our Complete JavaScript Number Reference.

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