Introduction

In JavaScript, numbers are a fundamental data type used for mathematical calculations, measurements, and more. However, JavaScript's handling of numbers comes with certain nuances and limitations. This guide delves into:

1. JavaScript Numbers
2. BigInt for Large Integers
3. Number Methods and Properties
4. Bitwise Operators

1. JavaScript Numbers

JavaScript numbers are always stored as 64-bit floating-point values, adhering to the IEEE 754 standard. This means that JavaScript does not differentiate between integers and floating-point numbers; both are represented as floating-point numbers. While this allows for a wide range of values, it also introduces precision limitations, especially with very large or very small numbers.

2. BigInt: Handling Large Integers

Introduced in ECMAScript 2020, BigInt is a new primitive type that can represent integers beyond the safe integer limit for Numbers (±(2^53 − 1)). BigInt can handle arbitrarily large integers, making it suitable for applications requiring high-precision arithmetic, such as cryptography or scientific computations.

Creating a BigInt:

Important Notes:

1. BigInt values are denoted by appending n to the end of an integer literal.
2. Operations between BigInt and Number types are not allowed without explicit conversion, as they are different types and cannot be mixed directly.
3. BigInt cannot represent floating-point numbers; it is strictly for integers.

3. Number Methods and Properties

JavaScript provides a set of built-in methods and properties for working with numbers:

Common Methods:

1. Number.isInteger(value): Determines if the value is an integer.
2. Number.parseInt(string): Parses a string and returns an integer.
3. Number.parseFloat(string): Parses a string and returns a floating-point number.
4. Number.toFixed(digits): Formats a number using fixed-point notation.
5. Number.toExponential(): Returns a string representing the number in exponential notation.

Number Properties:

1. Number.MAX_VALUE: The largest positive number representable in JavaScript.
2. Number.MIN_VALUE: The smallest positive number representable in JavaScript.
3. Number.NaN: Represents "Not-a-Number" value.
4. Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY: Represents positive infinity.
5. Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY: Represents negative infinity.

Example Usage:

4. Bitwise Operators

Bitwise operators perform operations on 32-bit integers at the binary level. These operators are useful for low-level programming tasks, such as manipulating flags, performing efficient calculations, or interfacing with hardware.

Common Bitwise Operators:

1. & (AND): Sets each bit to 1 if both bits are 1.
2. | (OR): Sets each bit to 1 if one of two bits is 1.
3. ^ (XOR): Sets each bit to 1 if only one of two bits is 1.
4. ~ (NOT): Inverts all the bits.
5. << (Left Shift): Shifts bits to the left, filling with zeros.
6. >> (Right Shift): Shifts bits to the right, preserving the sign bit.
7. >>> (Zero-fill Right Shift): Shifts bits to the right, filling with zeros.

Example Usage:

Important Considerations:

1. Bitwise operators convert operands to 32-bit signed integers.
2. The result of a bitwise operation is always a 32-bit signed integer.
3. Bitwise operations are typically faster than arithmetic operations and can be used for performance-critical code.

Conclusion

Understanding JavaScript's number handling, including the introduction of BigInt for large integers, the utility of number methods and properties, and the application of bitwise operators, is crucial for effective programming. These tools enable developers to perform precise calculations, manipulate data efficiently, and handle a wide range of numerical scenarios in JavaScript.