Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global objects/Number/isNaN

The Number.isNaN() method determines whether the passed value is NaN and its type is Number. It is a more robust version of the original, global isNaN().

Syntax

Number.isNaN(value)

Parameters

value: The value to be tested for NaN.

Return value

true if the given value is NaN and its type is Number; otherwise, false.

Description

Due to both equality operators, == and ===, evaluating to false when checking if NaN is NaN, the function Number.isNaN() has become necessary. This situation is unlike all other possible value comparisons in JavaScript.

In comparison to the global isNaN() function, Number.isNaN() doesn't suffer the problem of forcefully converting the parameter to a number. This means it is now safe to pass values that would normally convert to NaN, but aren't actually the same value as NaN. This also means that only values of the type number, that are also NaN, return true.

Examples

Using isNaN

Number.isNaN(NaN);        // true
Number.isNaN(Number.NaN); // true
Number.isNaN(0 / 0);      // true

// e.g. these would have been true with global isNaN()
Number.isNaN('NaN');      // false
Number.isNaN(undefined);  // false
Number.isNaN({});         // false
Number.isNaN('blabla');   // false

// These all return false
Number.isNaN(true);
Number.isNaN(null);
Number.isNaN(37);
Number.isNaN('37');
Number.isNaN('37.37');
Number.isNaN('');
Number.isNaN(' ');

Polyfill

The following works because NaN is the only value in JavaScript which is not equal to itself.

Number.isNaN = Number.isNaN || function isNaN(input) {
    return typeof input === 'number' && input !== input;
}

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)The definition of 'Number.isnan' 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
`isNaN`	Chrome Full support 25	Edge Full support 12	Firefox Full support 15	IE No support No	Opera Full support 15	Safari Full support 9	WebView Android Full support ≤37	Chrome Android Full support 25	Firefox Android Full support 15	Opera Android Full support 14	Safari iOS Full support 9	Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.5	nodejs Full support 0.10

Legend

Full support: Full support
No support: No support