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JavaScript parseFloat() method | convert string to float number

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JavaScript parseFloat() used to convert a string into a floating-point number. The parseFloat() is an inbuilt function in JavaScript, which parses a string and returns a floating-point number.

Syntax

parseFloat(string)

Parameter Values

String Value converted to a floating point number.

Return value

It returns a floating-point Number or if can’t be converted then the function returns NaN i.e, not a number.

Examples of JavaScript parseFloat() method

Let’s see the different example of how to convert string to float number.

Parse Number strings

Simple basic example

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html>
  
<body> 
    <script type="text/javascript">
    	var a = parseFloat("10")
    	alert(a)
    </script>
      
    
</body> 
  
</html> 

Output:

JavaScript parseFloat method

Different type of string and result

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html>
  
<body> 
    <script type="text/javascript">
      a = parseFloat("  100  ") 
      document.write('parseFloat("  100  ") = ' +a +"<br>"); 
  
      b = parseFloat("2020@abc") 
      document.write('parseFloat("2020@abc") = '+b +"<br>"); 
  
      // It returns NaN on Non numeral character 
      c = parseFloat("xyz@2018") 
      document.write('parseFloat("xyz@2018") = ' +c +"<br>"); 
  
      d = parseFloat("3.14") 
      document.write('parseFloat("3.14") = '+d +"<br>"); 
  
      // It returns only first Number it encounters 
      e = parseFloat("22 7 2020") 
      document.write('parseFloat("22 7 2018") = ' +e +"<br>");
    </script>
      
    
</body> 
  
</html> 

Output

convert string to float number

Dealing with float precision in Javascript

Working on a function in JavaScript and take two variables x and y.

Needed to divide two variables and display result on the screen:

x=9; y=110;
x/y;

Getting the result as :

0.08181818181818181

But want that result was shown as:

0.082

Solution

Try this it is rounding to 3 numbers after coma:

(x/y).toFixed(3);

Now your result will be a string. If you need it to be float just do:

parseFloat((x/y).toFixed(3));

Complete example

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html>
  
<body> 
    <script type="text/javascript">
      x = 9;
      y = 110;
      n = parseFloat((x/y).toFixed(3));
      alert(n);
    </script>
      
    
</body> 
  
</html> 

How to JavaScript parseFloat comma

Answer: You have to first remove the commas using replace method.

parseFloat(yournumber.replace(/,/g, ''));

Read more: JavaScript replace all Word | space, comma | special characters

Output JavaScript parseFloat empty string

<!DOCTYPE html> 
<html>
  
<body> 
    <script type="text/javascript">
      x = "";
      alert(parseFloat(x));
    </script>
      
    
</body> 
  
</html> 
Output JavaScript parseFloat empty string

Note:

  • Leading and trailing spaces are allowed.
  • Only the first number in the string is returned.
  • If the first character can’t be converted to a number, parseFloat() returns NaN.

Do comment if you have any doubts and suggestions on this tutorial.

Note: The All JS Examples codes are tested on the Safari browser (Version 12.0.2) and Chrome.
OS: macOS 10.14 Mojave
Code: HTML 5 Version

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