Introduction to JavaScript parseFloat()
Parsing a float in JavaScript refers to the process of converting a string representation of a number into a floating-point number. There are several different ways to do this, each with its own advantages and disadvantages.
This article explains three different approaches you can use to parse a float in JavaScript
Using the parseFloat() function
The parseFloat() function is a built-in JavaScript function that takes a string as an argument and returns the corresponding floating-point number. This is the easiest and most straightforward way to parse float in JavaScript, but it has the disadvantage of not being very flexible. For example, it is not possible to specify the number of decimal places to use when parsing the float.
Here is an example where we use the parseFloat function to parse the string to float value.
let floatValue = parseFloat("3.14159");
console.log(floatValue);
Output
3.14159
Using the Number() function
The Number() function is another built-in JavaScript function that can be used to convert a string representation of a number into a numeric value. This function is more flexible than parseFloat(), as it allows you to specify the number of decimal places to use when parsing the float. However, it is not always as accurate as parseFloat(), as it may round the resulting float to the nearest whole number.
Here is an example where we parse the string and define that the float value has a decimal place of 5.
let floatValue = Number("3.14159", 5);
console.log(floatValue);
Output
3.14159
Using the Number.parseFloat() method
The Number.parseFloat() method is a newer way to parse a float in JavaScript, and it provides many of the same benefits as the parseFloat() function. However, it is more accurate and flexible than parseFloat(), as it allows you to specify the radix (i.e. the base of the number system) to use when parsing the float.
Here is an example where we parse the string and specify a radix number of 10.
let floatValue = Number.parseFloat("3.14159", 10);
console.log(floatValue);
Output
3.14159
Summary
In conclusion, there are several different ways to parse a float in JavaScript, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. The best approach to use will depend on your specific needs and requirements.
References
parseFloat() - JavaScript - MDN Web Docs
