Typecasting in Javascript

By: Emiley J.  

It’s also possible to convert values using a process called type casting. Type casting allows you to access a specific value as if it were of a different type. Three type casts are available in JavaScript:

  • Boolean(value) – casts the given value as a Boolean
  • Number(value) – casts the given value as a number (either integer or floating-point)
  • String(value) – casts the given value a string

Casting a value using one of these three functions creates a new value that is a direct conversion of the original. This can lead to some unexpected results. The Boolean() type cast returns true when the value is a string with at least one character, a number other than 0, or an object (discussed in the next section); it returns false when the value is an empty string, the number 0, undefined , or null . The following code snippet can be used to test type casting as a Boolean:

var b1 = Boolean(“”); //false – empty string

var b2 = Boolean(“hi”); //true – non-empty string

var b3 = Boolean(100); //true – non-zero number

var b4 = Boolean(null); //false - null

var b5 = Boolean(0); //false - zero

var b6 = Boolean(new Object()); //true – object

The Number() type cast works in a manner similar to parseInt() and parseFloat() , except that it converts the entire value, not just part of it. Remember that parseInt() and parseFloat() only convert up to the first invalid character (in strings), so “4.5.6” becomes “4.5” . Using the Number() type cast, “4.5.6” becomes NaN because the entire string value cannot be converted into a number. If a string value can be converted entirely, Number() decides whether to use parseInt() or parseFloat() . The following table illustrates what happens when Number() is used on various values:

Usage Result

Number(false) 0

Number(true) 1

Number(undefined) NaN

Number(null) 0

Number(“5.5”) 5.5

Number(“56”) 56

Number(“5.6.7”) NaN

Number(new Object()) NaN

Number(100) 100

The last type cast, String() , is the simplest because it can accurately convert any value to a string value. To execute the type cast, it simply calls the toString() method of the value that was passed in, which converts 1 to “1”, true to “true”, false to “false”, and so on. The only difference between type casting as a string and using toString() is that the type cast can produce a string for a null or undefined value without error:

var s1 = String(null); //”null”

var oNull = null;

var s2 = oNull.toString(); //won’t work, causes an error

Type casting is very helpful when dealing with the loosely typed nature of JavaScript, although you should ensure that only proper values are used.




Archived Comments

1. eqienaeto
View Tutorial          By: eqienaeto at 2017-01-15 04:11:30

2. Thank you very much for Number() and String(),

I was using it with double not ( !! )

View Tutorial          By: Shyam Makwana at 2016-05-09 09:25:28

3. Thank you very much.
View Tutorial          By: allcracked at 2013-09-11 19:10:20

4. There is a new library, Typecast.js, to help navigate the typing weirdness in Javascript.

View Tutorial          By: Bishop Z at 2013-01-23 19:47:40

5. really good article for type casting for javascript
View Tutorial          By: jignesh at 2012-10-31 01:08:38

6. thanks ..it was really helpful.
View Tutorial          By: jay at 2012-03-19 04:17:14

7. Typecasting concept helped me alot in solving my prblem. My problem is when I was trying add two num
View Tutorial          By: Arun at 2010-09-02 00:23:38

8. Typecasting proved very much helpful to me...esp. when I was adding two variables passed as argument
View Tutorial          By: itan at 2010-05-04 01:30:24


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