IE 5.5: Formatting, URIs, and Stack Operations : Formatting Numbers | WebReference

# IE 5.5: Formatting, URIs, and Stack Operations : Formatting Numbers

## Formatting Numbers

Until IE5.5, formatting numbers was a real challenge. We all used high mathematical functions such as `Math.ceil` and `Math.pow` to format numbers the way we wanted to. IE5.5 fixes this problem with three new methods of the Number prototype object:

• `toFixed(fractionDigits)`
• `toExponential(fractionDigits)`
• `toPrecision(precision)`

The `toFixed(fractionDigits)` method formats a number with `fractionDigits` digits after the decimal place. Suppose:

``x = 1234.56789``

and you call `alert(x.toFixed(4))`, you'll get `1234.5679` in IE5.5 .

The `toExponential(fractionDigits)` method formats a number with `fractionDigits` digits after the decimal place, in exponential notation. Suppose:

``x = 1234.56789``

and you call `alert(x.toExponential(2))`, you'll get `1.23e+3` in IE5.5 .

The `toPrecision(precision)` method formats a number with total `precision` number of digits, in exponential notation if needed. Suppose:

``x = 1234.56789``

and you call `alert(x.toPrecision(2))`, you'll get `1.2e+3` in IE5.5 .

When you call `alert(x.toPrecision(9))`, you'll get `1234.56789` in IE5.5 .

Next: How to format data according to local settings

Produced by Yehuda Shiran and Tomer Shiran

Created: March 14, 2000
Revised: April 26, 2000

URL: http://www.webreference.com/js/column59/2.html