Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Math/fround

The Math.fround() function returns the nearest 32-bit single precision float representation of a Number.

Syntax

var singleFloat = Math.fround(doubleFloat);

Parameters

doubleFloat: A Number. If the parameter is of a different type, it will get converted to a number or to NaN if it cannot be converted.

Return value

The nearest 32-bit single precision float representation of the given number.

Description

JavaScript uses 64-bit double floating-point numbers internally, which offer a very high precision. However, sometimes you may be working with 32-bit floating-point numbers, for example if you are reading values from a Float32Array. This can create confusion: Checking a 64-bit float and a 32-bit float for equality may fail even though the numbers are seemingly identical.

To solve this, Math.fround() can be used to cast the 64-bit float to a 32-bit float. Internally, JavaScript continues to treat the number as a 64-bit float, it just performs a "round to even" on the 23rd bit of the mantissa, and sets all following mantissa bits to 0. If the number is outside the range of a 32-bit float, Infinity or -Infinity is returned.

Because fround() is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.fround(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created (Math is not a constructor).

Examples

Using Math.fround()

The number 1.5 can be precisely represented in the binary numeral system, and is identical in 32-bit and 64-bit:

Math.fround(1.5); // 1.5
Math.fround(1.5) === 1.5; // true

However, the number 1.337 cannot be precisely represented in the binary numeral system, so it differs in 32-bit and 64-bit:

Math.fround(1.337); // 1.3370000123977661
Math.fround(1.337) === 1.337; // false

<math display="inline">2^{150}</math> is too big for a 32-bit float, so Infinity is returned:

2 ** 150; // 1.42724769270596e+45
Math.fround(2 ** 150); // Infinity

If the parameter cannot be converted to a number, or it is not-a-number (NaN), Math.fround() will return NaN:

Math.fround('abc'); // NaN
Math.fround(NaN); // NaN

Polyfill

This can be emulated with the following function, if Float32Array are supported:

Math.fround = Math.fround || (function (array) {
  return function(x) {
    return array[0] = x, array[0];
  };
})(new Float32Array(1));

Supporting older browsers is slower, but also possible:

if (!Math.fround) Math.fround = function(arg) {
  arg = Number(arg);
  // Return early for ±0 and NaN.
  if (!arg) return arg;
  var sign = arg < 0 ? -1 : 1;
  if (sign < 0) arg = -arg;
  // Compute the exponent (8 bits, signed).
  var exp = Math.floor(Math.log(arg) / Math.LN2);
  var powexp = Math.pow(2, Math.max(-126, Math.min(exp, 127)));
  // Handle subnormals: leading digit is zero if exponent bits are all zero.
  var leading = exp < -127 ? 0 : 1;
  // Compute 23 bits of mantissa, inverted to round toward zero.
  var mantissa = Math.round((leading - arg / powexp) * 0x800000);
  if (mantissa <= -0x800000) return sign * Infinity;
  return sign * powexp * (leading - mantissa / 0x800000);
};

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'Math.fround' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Internet Explorer	Opera	Safari	Android webview	Chrome for Android	Firefox for Android	Opera for Android	Safari on iOS	Samsung Internet	Node.js
`fround`	Chrome Full support 38	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 26	IE No support No	Opera Full support 25	Safari Full support 8	WebView Android Full support 38	Chrome Android Full support 38	Firefox Android Full support 26	Opera Android Full support 25	Safari iOS Full support 8	Samsung Internet Android Full support 3.0	nodejs Full support 0.12

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support