search
HomeWeb Front-endJS TutorialLearn javascript floating point precision with me_javascript skills

Most programming languages ​​have several numeric data types, but JavaScript has only one. You can use the typeof operator to check the type of a number. Regardless of whether they are integers or floating point numbers, JavaScript simply classifies them as numbers.

typeof 17; //number
typeof 98.6; //number
typeof -21.3; //number

In fact, all numbers in JavaScript are double-precision floating point numbers. These are 64-bit encoded numbers - "doubles" - specified by the IEEE754 standard. If this fact makes you wonder how JavaScript represents integers, remember that double-precision floating point numbers perfectly represent integers up to 53 digits of precision. All integers from –9 007 199 254 740 992 (–253) to 9 007 199 254 740 992 (253) are valid double-precision floating point numbers. So, despite the lack of obvious integer types in JavaScript, integer arithmetic is perfectly possible.
Most arithmetic operators can perform calculations using integers, real numbers, or a combination of both.

0.1 * 0.9; //0.19
-99 + 100; //1
21- 12.3; //8.7
2.5 /5; //0.5
21%8; //5

However, bit arithmetic operators are special. JavaScript does not directly operate on the operand as a floating point number, but implicitly converts it to a 32-bit integer before performing the operation. (To be precise, they are converted to 32-bit big-endian 2’s complement representation of integers.) Take the bitwise OR expression as an example:

8|1; //9

A seemingly simple expression actually requires several steps to complete the operation. As mentioned before, the numbers 8 and 1 in JavaScript are both double-precision floating point numbers. But they can also be represented as 32-bit integers, which are sequences of 32 bits 0 and 1. The integer 8 is represented as a 32-bit binary sequence as follows:

00000000000000000000000000001000

You can also use the toString method of the numeric type to view it yourself:

(8).toString(2) //"1000"

The parameter of the

toString method specifies its conversion base. This example is expressed in base 2 (i.e. binary). The resulting value omits the extra 0 (bits) on the left because they do not affect the final value.
The integer 1 is represented as a 32-bit binary as follows:

00000000000000000000000000000001

Bitwise OR expression combines two bit sequences. As long as any one of the two bits involved in the operation is 1, the bit in the operation result will be 1. The result expressed as a bit pattern is as follows:

00000000000000000000000000001001

This sequence represents the integer 9. You can use the standard library function parseInt to verify, also using base 2:

parseInt("1000", 2); //9

(Again, leading 0 bits are unnecessary as they do not affect the result of the operation.)
All bitwise operators work the same way. They convert the operands to integers, then perform operations using integer bit patterns, and finally convert the result to a standard JavaScript floating point number. Typically, the JavaScript engine needs to do some extra work to perform these conversions. Because the number is stored as a floating point number, it must be converted to an integer and then converted back to a floating point number. However, in some cases, arithmetic expressions or even variables can only be operated with integers, and optimizing compilers can sometimes infer these situations and store numbers as integers internally to avoid redundant conversions.

A final warning about floating point numbers is that you should always be wary of them. Floating point numbers may seem familiar, but they are notoriously imprecise. Even some seemingly simple arithmetic operations can produce incorrect results.

0.1 0.2; 0.300000000000004

Although the precision of 64 bits is quite high, double-precision floating point numbers can only represent a limited set of numbers, but cannot represent the entire set of real numbers. Floating point operations can only produce approximate results, rounded to the nearest representable real number. As you perform a series of operations, the results become less and less accurate as rounding errors accumulate. Rounding can also produce some unexpected deviations from the laws of arithmetic we normally expect. For example, real numbers satisfy the associative law, which means that for any real numbers x, y, z, (x y) z = x (y z) is always satisfied.

However, for floating point numbers, this is not always the case.

(0.1+0.2)+0.3; //0.60000000000000001
0.1+(0.2+ 0.3); //0.6

Floating point numbers trade off precision and performance. When we care about precision, be careful about the limitations of floating point numbers. An efficient solution is to use integer-valued arithmetic whenever possible, since integers are represented without rounding. When performing currency-related calculations, programmers often proportionally convert the value to the smallest monetary unit before performing the calculation, so that the calculation can be performed as an integer. For example, if the above calculation is in US dollars, then we can convert it to an integer representation of cents.

(10+20)+30; //60
10+ (20+30); //60

For integer operations, you don’t have to worry about rounding errors, but you still have to be careful that all calculations only apply to integers from –253 to 253.

Tips

  • JavaScript numbers are all double-precision floating point numbers.
  • Integers in JavaScript are just a subset of double-precision floating point numbers, not a separate data type
  • Bitwise operators treat numbers as 32-bit signed integers.

The above is the introduction of floating point numbers in JavaScript. We must always pay attention to the precision traps in floating point operations. I hope this article will be helpful to everyone's learning.

Statement
The content of this article is voluntarily contributed by netizens, and the copyright belongs to the original author. This site does not assume corresponding legal responsibility. If you find any content suspected of plagiarism or infringement, please contact admin@php.cn
Python vs. JavaScript: A Comparative Analysis for DevelopersPython vs. JavaScript: A Comparative Analysis for DevelopersMay 09, 2025 am 12:22 AM

The main difference between Python and JavaScript is the type system and application scenarios. 1. Python uses dynamic types, suitable for scientific computing and data analysis. 2. JavaScript adopts weak types and is widely used in front-end and full-stack development. The two have their own advantages in asynchronous programming and performance optimization, and should be decided according to project requirements when choosing.

Python vs. JavaScript: Choosing the Right Tool for the JobPython vs. JavaScript: Choosing the Right Tool for the JobMay 08, 2025 am 12:10 AM

Whether to choose Python or JavaScript depends on the project type: 1) Choose Python for data science and automation tasks; 2) Choose JavaScript for front-end and full-stack development. Python is favored for its powerful library in data processing and automation, while JavaScript is indispensable for its advantages in web interaction and full-stack development.

Python and JavaScript: Understanding the Strengths of EachPython and JavaScript: Understanding the Strengths of EachMay 06, 2025 am 12:15 AM

Python and JavaScript each have their own advantages, and the choice depends on project needs and personal preferences. 1. Python is easy to learn, with concise syntax, suitable for data science and back-end development, but has a slow execution speed. 2. JavaScript is everywhere in front-end development and has strong asynchronous programming capabilities. Node.js makes it suitable for full-stack development, but the syntax may be complex and error-prone.

JavaScript's Core: Is It Built on C or C  ?JavaScript's Core: Is It Built on C or C ?May 05, 2025 am 12:07 AM

JavaScriptisnotbuiltonCorC ;it'saninterpretedlanguagethatrunsonenginesoftenwritteninC .1)JavaScriptwasdesignedasalightweight,interpretedlanguageforwebbrowsers.2)EnginesevolvedfromsimpleinterpreterstoJITcompilers,typicallyinC ,improvingperformance.

JavaScript Applications: From Front-End to Back-EndJavaScript Applications: From Front-End to Back-EndMay 04, 2025 am 12:12 AM

JavaScript can be used for front-end and back-end development. The front-end enhances the user experience through DOM operations, and the back-end handles server tasks through Node.js. 1. Front-end example: Change the content of the web page text. 2. Backend example: Create a Node.js server.

Python vs. JavaScript: Which Language Should You Learn?Python vs. JavaScript: Which Language Should You Learn?May 03, 2025 am 12:10 AM

Choosing Python or JavaScript should be based on career development, learning curve and ecosystem: 1) Career development: Python is suitable for data science and back-end development, while JavaScript is suitable for front-end and full-stack development. 2) Learning curve: Python syntax is concise and suitable for beginners; JavaScript syntax is flexible. 3) Ecosystem: Python has rich scientific computing libraries, and JavaScript has a powerful front-end framework.

JavaScript Frameworks: Powering Modern Web DevelopmentJavaScript Frameworks: Powering Modern Web DevelopmentMay 02, 2025 am 12:04 AM

The power of the JavaScript framework lies in simplifying development, improving user experience and application performance. When choosing a framework, consider: 1. Project size and complexity, 2. Team experience, 3. Ecosystem and community support.

The Relationship Between JavaScript, C  , and BrowsersThe Relationship Between JavaScript, C , and BrowsersMay 01, 2025 am 12:06 AM

Introduction I know you may find it strange, what exactly does JavaScript, C and browser have to do? They seem to be unrelated, but in fact, they play a very important role in modern web development. Today we will discuss the close connection between these three. Through this article, you will learn how JavaScript runs in the browser, the role of C in the browser engine, and how they work together to drive rendering and interaction of web pages. We all know the relationship between JavaScript and browser. JavaScript is the core language of front-end development. It runs directly in the browser, making web pages vivid and interesting. Have you ever wondered why JavaScr

See all articles

Hot AI Tools

Undresser.AI Undress

Undresser.AI Undress

AI-powered app for creating realistic nude photos

AI Clothes Remover

AI Clothes Remover

Online AI tool for removing clothes from photos.

Undress AI Tool

Undress AI Tool

Undress images for free

Clothoff.io

Clothoff.io

AI clothes remover

Video Face Swap

Video Face Swap

Swap faces in any video effortlessly with our completely free AI face swap tool!

Hot Article

Hot Tools

WebStorm Mac version

WebStorm Mac version

Useful JavaScript development tools

SecLists

SecLists

SecLists is the ultimate security tester's companion. It is a collection of various types of lists that are frequently used during security assessments, all in one place. SecLists helps make security testing more efficient and productive by conveniently providing all the lists a security tester might need. List types include usernames, passwords, URLs, fuzzing payloads, sensitive data patterns, web shells, and more. The tester can simply pull this repository onto a new test machine and he will have access to every type of list he needs.

mPDF

mPDF

mPDF is a PHP library that can generate PDF files from UTF-8 encoded HTML. The original author, Ian Back, wrote mPDF to output PDF files "on the fly" from his website and handle different languages. It is slower than original scripts like HTML2FPDF and produces larger files when using Unicode fonts, but supports CSS styles etc. and has a lot of enhancements. Supports almost all languages, including RTL (Arabic and Hebrew) and CJK (Chinese, Japanese and Korean). Supports nested block-level elements (such as P, DIV),

SublimeText3 Mac version

SublimeText3 Mac version

God-level code editing software (SublimeText3)

Atom editor mac version download

Atom editor mac version download

The most popular open source editor