Number.prototype.toPrecision()

The toPrecision() method returns a string representing the Number object to the specified precision.

Syntax

numObj.toPrecision([precision])

Parameters

precision
Optional. An integer specifying the number of significant digits.

Return value

A string representing a Number object in fixed-point or exponential notation rounded to precision significant digits. See the discussion of rounding in the description of the Number.prototype.toFixed() method, which also applies to toPrecision().

If the precision argument is omitted, behaves as Number.prototype.toString(). If the precision argument is a non-integer value, it is rounded to the nearest integer.

Exceptions

RangeError
If precision is not between 1 and 100 (inclusive), a RangeError is thrown. Implementations are allowed to support larger and smaller values as well. ECMA-262 only requires a precision of up to 21 significant digits.

Examples

Using toPrecision

var numObj = 5.123456;

console.log(numObj.toPrecision());    // logs '5.123456'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(5));   // logs '5.1235'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(2));   // logs '5.1'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(1));   // logs '5'

numObj = 0.000123

console.log(numObj.toPrecision());    // logs '0.000123'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(5));   // logs '0.00012300'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(2));   // logs '0.00012'
console.log(numObj.toPrecision(1));   // logs '0.0001' 

// note that exponential notation might be returned in some circumstances
console.log((1234.5).toPrecision(2)); // logs '1.2e+3'

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript 3rd Edition (ECMA-262) Standard Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.5.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Number.prototype.toPrecision' in that specification.		 Standard  
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Number.prototype.toPrecision' in that specification.		 Standard  
ECMAScript Latest Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Number.prototype.toPrecision' in that specification.		 Draft  

Browser compatibility

Update compatibility data on GitHub
DesktopMobileServer
ChromeEdgeFirefoxInternet ExplorerOperaSafariAndroid webviewChrome for AndroidFirefox for AndroidOpera for AndroidSafari on iOSSamsung InternetNode.js
toPrecisionChrome Full support YesEdge Full support 12Firefox Full support 1IE Full support YesOpera Full support YesSafari Full support YesWebView Android Full support YesChrome Android Full support YesFirefox Android Full support 4Opera Android Full support YesSafari iOS Full support YesSamsung Internet Android Full support Yesnodejs Full support Yes

Legend

Full support  
Full support

See also

Last modified:

, by MDN contributors
Related Topics
  1. Standard built-in objects
  2. Number
  3. Properties
    1. Number.EPSILON
    2. Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER
    3. Number.MAX_VALUE
    4. Number.MIN_SAFE_INTEGER
    5. Number.MIN_VALUE
    6. Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY
    7. Number.NaN
    8. Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY
    9. Number.prototype
  4. Methods
    1. Number.isFinite()
    2. Number.isInteger()
    3. Number.isNaN()
    4. Number.isSafeInteger()
    5. Number.parseFloat()
    6. Number.parseInt()
    7. Number.prototype.toExponential()
    8. Number.prototype.toFixed()
    9. Number.prototype.toLocaleString()
    10. Number.prototype.toPrecision()
    11. Number.prototype.toSource()
    12. Number.prototype.toString()
    13. Number.prototype.valueOf()
    14. Number.toInteger()
  5. Inheritance:
  6. Function
  7. Properties
    1. Function.arguments
    2. Function.arity
    3. Function.caller
    4. Function.displayName
    5. Function.length
    6. Function.name
    7. Function.prototype
  8. Methods
    1. Function.prototype.apply()
    2. Function.prototype.bind()
    3. Function.prototype.call()
    4. Function.prototype.isGenerator()
    5. Function.prototype.toSource()
    6. Function.prototype.toString()
  9. Object
  10. Properties
    1. Object.prototype.__count__
    2. Object.prototype.__noSuchMethod__
    3. Object.prototype.__parent__
    4. Object.prototype.__proto__
    5. Object.prototype.constructor
  11. Methods
    1. Object.prototype.__defineGetter__()
    2. Object.prototype.__defineSetter__()
    3. Object.prototype.__lookupGetter__()
    4. Object.prototype.__lookupSetter__()
    5. Object.prototype.hasOwnProperty()
    6. Object.prototype.isPrototypeOf()
    7. Object.prototype.propertyIsEnumerable()
    8. Object.prototype.toLocaleString()
    9. Object.prototype.toSource()
    10. Object.prototype.toString()
    11. Object.prototype.unwatch()
    12. Object.prototype.valueOf()
    13. Object.prototype.watch()
    14. Object.setPrototypeOf()