parseInt() in JavaScript – How to Convert String to Decimal
Whenever you invoke parseInt(), the method does the following:
- It parses (analyzes) its string argument.
- It converts the string argument from its radix state to a decimal integer.
Syntax of the parseInt() Method
parseInt() accepts two arguments. Here is the syntax:
parseInt("string", radix);
Argument 1: string
A string argument is the first argument accepted by the parseInt() method. It is a required argument specifying the string value you want the computer to parse (analyze).
- Suppose the first argument is not a string. In that case,
parseInt()will convert it using the ToString abstract operation. parseInt()ignores all leading and trailing whitespaces in the string argument.
Argument 2: radix
A radix is the second argument accepted by the parseInt() method. It is an optional argument specifying the string argument's base.
Example 1: Convert Binary String to Decimal Integer
parseInt("1011001", 2);
// The invocation above will return: 89
Example 2: Convert Hexadecimal String to Decimal integer
parseInt("4fc", 16);
// The invocation above will return: 1276
Example 3: Convert Decimal String to Decimal Integer
parseInt("45", 10);
// The invocation above will return: 45
Note that the snippet above is equivalent to:
parseInt("45");
// The invocation above will return: 45
Important Stuff to Know about the Radix Argument
Below are three essential pieces of info you need to know about the radix argument.
Info 1: Always provide a radix argument
It is best practice to specify the radix argument because it does not always default to base 10 (decimal).
For instance, suppose you omit the radix and begin the string argument with "0X" or "0x" (number zero followed by the upper-case or lower-case letter X). In that case, the computer will use 16 (hexadecimal) as the radix.
Example 1: Begin parseInt()'s string argument with "Ox" without providing a radix
parseInt("0x95");
// The invocation above will return: 149
Note that the snippet above is equivalent to:
parseInt("0x95", 16);
// The invocation above will return: 149
Example 2: Begin parseInt()'s string argument with "Ox" while providing a radix
parseInt("0x95", 35);
// The invocation above will return: 40745
Info 2: Radix must be an integer between 2 and 36 inclusive
The radix argument must be an integer between 2 and 36 inclusive. Otherwise, parseInt() will return NaN (Not a Number).
Example 1: 1 is an invalid radix value
parseInt("45", 1);
// The invocation above will return: NaN
Example 2: 37 is an invalid radix value
parseInt("45", 37);
// The invocation above will return: NaN
Example 3: 36 is a valid radix value
parseInt("45", 36);
// The invocation above will return: 149
Example 4: 18 is a valid radix value
parseInt("45", 18);
// The invocation above will return: 77
Info 3: The first invalid character ends parseInt()'s analysis
Suppose parseInt() encounters a character that is not a valid number in the specified radix numeral system. In such a case, the computer will do the following:
- It will ignore all characters from the invalid one to the end of the string.
- It will convert only the characters preceding the invalid one.
Example 1: The first character is not a binary numeral
parseInt("5111", 2);
// The invocation above will return: NaN
The snippet above returned NaN because the string argument's first character (5) is an invalid binary numeral. Therefore, the computer ignored all the string's characters.
Example 2: The second character is not a binary numeral
parseInt("1511", 2);
// The invocation above will return: 1
The snippet above returned 1 because the string argument's second character (5) is an invalid binary numeral. Therefore, the computer converted only the first character.
Example 3: The third character is not a binary numeral
parseInt("1151", 2);
// The invocation above will return: 3
The snippet above returned 3 because the string argument's third character (5) is an invalid binary numeral. Therefore, the computer converted only the first and second characters.
Example 4: The fourth character is not a binary numeral
parseInt("1115", 2);
// The invocation above will return: 7
The snippet above returned 7 because the string argument's fourth character (5) is an invalid binary numeral. Therefore, the computer converted only the first, second, and third characters.
Overview
The parseInt() global method parses and converts its string argument from its radix state to a decimal integer.