JavaScript Math sign()

// sign() with a positive number
let value = Math.sign(126);
console.log(value); 

// Output:  1

sign() Syntax

The syntax of the Math.sign() method is:

Math.sign(number)

Here, sign() is a static method. Hence, we are accessing the method using the class name, Math.

sign() Parameter

The Math.sign() method takes a single parameter:

• number - value whose sign is to be determined

sign() Return Value

The sign() method returns:

• 1 if the argument is positive
• -1 if the argument is negative
• NaN (Not a Number) for a non-numeric argument

Example 1: JavaScript Math.sign()

// sign() with negative argument
let value1 = Math.sign(-27);
console.log(value1);

// sign() with positive argument
let value2 = Math.sign(16);
console.log(value2); 

// Output:
// -1
// 1

Here, the Math.sign() returns

• -1 - for the negative number -27
• 1 - for the positive number 16

Example 2: Math.sign() with Non-Numeric Arguments

let string = "Harry";
// sign() with non-numeric argument
let result = Math.sign(string);
console.log(result);

// Output: NaN

In the above example, we have used the Math.sign() method with a string value "Harry". Hence, we get NaN as output.

Example 3: Math.sign() with Zero Values

// sign() with negative zero
let value1 = Math.sign(-0);
console.log(value1);
// Output: -0

// sign() with positive zero
let value2 = Math.sign(0);
console.log(value2); 
// Output: 0

Recommended readings:

• JavaScript Math trunc()
• JavaScript Math ceil()
• JavaScript Math floor()