JavaScriptNumbers and Math
Math.
Returns the absolute value of a number, that is, its distance from zero.
- Returns
- The absolute value of
x.
Example
#JavaScript
console.log(Math.abs(-7))
console.log(Math.abs(7))
const target = 100
const results = [96, 108, 99]
console.log(results.map((r) => Math.abs(r - target)))Console
7
7
[4, 8, 1]
Definition and usage
#The Math.abs() function returns the number without its minus sign. For positive numbers and zero the result is unchanged, and negative numbers become positive.
It’s useful when only the size of a difference matters, not its direction: the distance between points, the difference in scores, the deviation from a target.
It also works on strings that can be converted to a number, but it’s better to pass it numbers directly, so you don’t rely on automatic conversion.
Syntax
#Syntax
Math.abs(x)Parameters
#x
number
The number whose absolute value you want to calculate.
Browser support
#Widely available
Works in all modern browsers, phones included. You can use it without worry.
- Chrome
- Edge
- Firefox
- Safari
Good practices
#- Compare floating-point numbers with a tolerance:
Math.abs(a - b) < 1e-9instead ofa === b. - The difference "how far off was I" is always
Math.abs(result - target).
Related entries
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