JavaScript implements numbers as floating point values, that is, they're attaining decimal values as well as whole number values.

Basic use

To make a new number, a simple initialization suffices:

var foo = 0; // or whatever number you want

After you have made your number, you can then modify it as necessary. Numbers can be modified or assigned using the operators defined within JavaScript.

foo = 1; //foo = 1
foo += 2; //foo = 3 (the two gets added on)
foo -= 2; //foo = 1 (the two gets removed)

Number literals define the number value. In particular:

• They appear as a set of digits of varying length.
• Negative literal numbers have a minus sign before the digits.
• Floating point literal numbers contain one decimal point, and may optionally use the e notation with the character e.
• An integer literal may be prepended with "0" to indicate that a number is in base-8. (8 and 9 are not octal digits, and if found, cause the integer to be read in the normal base-10).
• An integer literal may also be found with prefixed "0x" to indicate a hexadecimal number.

The Math object

Unlike strings, arrays, and dates, numbers in Javascript aren't objects, so they don't contain any methods that can be accessed by the normal dot notation. Instead the static Math object provides usual numeric functions and constants as its methods and properties. As a static object, the Math object does not need to be instantiated in order to use its methods. The methods and properties of the Math object are referenced using the dot operator in the usual way, for example:

var varOne = Math.ceil(8.5);
var varPi = Math.PI;
var sqrt3 = Math.sqrt(3);

var myInt = Math.ceil(90.8);
document.write(myInt); //91;

var myInt = Math.floor(90.8);
document.write(myInt); //90;

var myInt = Math.max(8, 9);
document.write(myInt); //9

var myInt = Math.min(8, 9);
document.write(myInt); //8

var myInt = Math.random();

var myInt = Math.round(90.8);
document.write(myInt); //91;

Further reading

• JavaScript Math Object at MDN