The Best Ways to Check if a Value is a Number in JavaScript

JavaScript developers often need to check whether a value is a number or not. There are several methods in JavaScript that can help determine if a variable is a number or not.

In this article, we will discuss the best ways to check if a value is a number in JavaScript, including the isNaN() method, the typeof operator, and the Number.isInteger() method. By the end of this article, you will have a clear understanding of how to identify numbers in JavaScript.

1. isNaN()

The first method, we are going to use is isNaN().

The method isNaN() stands for "is-not-a-number". If a number is passed as a parameter to it, the method will return false.

Here are a few examples with comments describing the output of the isNaN() method.

const x = 4;
const string = "Hello World";

isNaN(x) // false
isNaN(string) // true

isNaN({}) // true
isNaN(Math.PI) // false

2. "typeof" Operator

Another way to determine if the input is a number is to use the typeof operator.

It returns number string when you use it on a number.

For example,

const x = 4;

typeof x; // 'number'

typeof Math.PI; // 'number'

typeof "John" //  'string'

So, you can apply a conditional check to this,

const x = 4;
if(typeof x === 'number'){
    // Logic goes here
}else{
    // X is not a number
}

3. Number.isInteger()

The Number.isInteger() method returns true if an integer value is passed as a parameter.

Otherwise, it returns false

Please note: that Number.isInteger() is only applicable for integer data types. It will accurately return true for 4 but will return false for non-integer values like 3.14. You should only use this method if you specifically need to validate integer data types.

Number.isInteger(4); // true

const x = 20;
Number.isInteger(x) // true

Conclusion

In conclusion, JavaScript offers several ways to determine if a variable is a number or not. The isNaN() method checks if a value is not a number, the typeof operator can be used to check if a value is a number, and the Number.isInteger() method can be used to validate integer data types specific. It is important to choose the appropriate method based on the specific needs of the program.

Comments

[Jon Randy 🎖️]

Throw BigInts into the mix and things get a little more complicated. Technically, they are 'numbers' - but not Numbers to JavaScript. Also, calling isNaN on a BigInt will give you an error:

isNaN(42n) // Uncaught TypeError: can't convert BigInt to number