parseFloat()

The parseFloat() function parses an argument (converting it to a string first if needed) and returns a floating point number.

Syntax

parseFloat(string)

Parameters

string
The value to parse. If this argument is not a string, then it is converted to one using the ToString abstract operation. Leading whitespace in this argument is ignored.

Return value

A floating point number parsed from the given string.

Or NaN when the first non-whitespace character cannot be converted to a number.

Description

parseFloat is a top-level function and not a method of any object.

  • If parseFloat encounters a character other than a plus sign (+), minus sign (- U+002D HYPHEN-MINUS), numeral (09), decimal point (.), or exponent (e or E), it returns the value up to that character, ignoring the invalid character and characters following it.
  • A second decimal point also stops parsing (characters up to that point will still be parsed).
  • Leading and trailing spaces in the argument are ignored.
  • If the argumentโ€™s first character canโ€™t be converted to a number (itโ€™s not any of the above characters), parseFloat returns NaN.
  • parseFloat can also parse and return Infinity.
  • parseFloat converts BigInt syntax to Numbers, losing precision. This happens because the trailing n character is discarded.

Consider Number(value) for stricter parsing, which converts to NaN for arguments with invalid characters anywhere.

parseFloat will parse non-string objects if they have a toString or valueOf method. The returned value is the same as if parseFloat had been called on the result of those methods.

Examples

parseFloat returning a number

The following examples all return 3.14:

parseFloat(3.14);
parseFloat('3.14');
parseFloat('  3.14  ');
parseFloat('314e-2');
parseFloat('0.0314E+2');
parseFloat('3.14some non-digit characters');
parseFloat({ toString: function() { return "3.14" } });

parseFloat returning NaN

The following example returns NaN:

parseFloat('FF2');

parseFloat and BigInt

The following examples both return 900719925474099300, losing precision as the integer is too large to be represented as a float:

parseFloat(900719925474099267n);
parseFloat('900719925474099267n');

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'parseFloat' in that specification.

Browser compatibility

DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
parseFloatChrome Full support 1Edge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support 3Opera Full support 3Safari Full support 1WebView Android Full support 1Chrome Android Full support 18Firefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support 10.1Safari iOS Full support 1Samsung Internet Android Full support 1.0nodejs Full support 0.1.100

Legend

Full support
Full support

See also