How to test if a variable is numeric?

[Randell D.]

Folks,

I have a box that expects numeric input - I'd like to test for it (yeah,
I'll have service side checks too but also want client checks).

How can I test that my input is numeric - and numeric could mean
positive or negative floating numbers

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for any
other non-numeric input...

Thanks
Randell D.

[RobG]

Randell D. wrote:

Folks,

I have a box that expects numeric input - I'd like to test for it (yeah,
I'll have service side checks too but also want client checks).

How can I test that my input is numeric - and numeric could mean
positive or negative floating numbers

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for any
other non-numeric input...

Thanks
Randell D.

I think you'll find whatever you want here:

<URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/js-valid.htm#Val>
--
Rob

[Douglas Crockford]

> For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for any

other non-numeric input...

typeof value == 'number'

is good if you are not worried about NaN or Infinity. If you are, then

typeof value == 'number' && isFinite(value)

is better.

http://www.crockford.com/javascript/remedial.html

[Randell D.]

Douglas Crockford wrote:

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for
any other non-numeric input...

typeof value == 'number'

is good if you are not worried about NaN or Infinity. If you are, then

typeof value == 'number' && isFinite(value)

is better.

http://www.crockford.com/javascript/remedial.html

Thanks - I found reference of typeof but wasn't quite sure how to use it...

Cheers
randell d.

[Randell D.]

RobG wrote:

Randell D. wrote:

Folks,

I have a box that expects numeric input - I'd like to test for it
(yeah, I'll have service side checks too but also want client checks).

How can I test that my input is numeric - and numeric could mean
positive or negative floating numbers

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for
any other non-numeric input...

Thanks
Randell D.

I think you'll find whatever you want here:

<URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/js-valid.htm#Val>

Thanks... I've had a quick look - but because its bedtime for me now I
think I'll check it out tomorrow morning... I've got about six months of
javascript so given a rough direction I more often than not find my way
- I'm sure what you've provided will prove useful.

Cheers
Randell D.

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <74************ **************@ msgid.meganewss ervers.com

, dated Wed, 9 Feb 2005 19:45:20, seen in news:comp.lang. javascript,

Douglas Crockford <no****@covad.n et> posted :

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for any
other non-numeric input...

typeof value == 'number'

is good if you are not worried about NaN or Infinity. If you are, then

typeof value == 'number' && isFinite(value)

is better.

That will do for testing the nature of the entity provided as a function
parameter, for example; but ISTM that the OP has a control whose .value
is of type string, and wants to know whether that string looks line a
number.

The OP did not say whether numbers such as 4.5e3 should be accepted,
meaning 4500, or as 0xc meaning 12 (a true programmer always shops in
Hexadecimal).

--
© John Stockton, Surrey, UK. ?@merlyn.demon. co.uk Turnpike v4.00 MIME. ©
Web <URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/> - FAQqish topics, acronyms & links;
some Astro stuff via astro.htm, gravity0.htm ; quotings.htm, pascal.htm, etc.
No Encoding. Quotes before replies. Snip well. Write clearly. Don't Mail News.

[Randell D.]

Dr John Stockton wrote:

JRS: In article <74************ **************@ msgid.meganewss ervers.com

, dated Wed, 9 Feb 2005 19:45:20, seen in news:comp.lang. javascript,

Douglas Crockford <no****@covad.n et> posted :

For example: return true for 1, 1.5, -1, -4.25 and return false for any
other non-numeric input...

typeof value == 'number'

is good if you are not worried about NaN or Infinity. If you are, then

typeof value == 'number' && isFinite(value)

is better.

That will do for testing the nature of the entity provided as a function
parameter, for example; but ISTM that the OP has a control whose .value
is of type string, and wants to know whether that string looks line a
number.

The OP did not say whether numbers such as 4.5e3 should be accepted,
meaning 4500, or as 0xc meaning 12 (a true programmer always shops in
Hexadecimal).

Fair point and it brings me back to this post because roughly speaking
you've discovered why I have found the above solution doesn't work for me.

The values I'm talking about will not contain alphabetic characters -
thus numbers of 4.5e3 would not be expected but 4500 might be a possibility.

Where I have a form called myForm, and an input tag named myAge, how
could I test that it is numeric?

Using the above example provided by Douglas (and after reading the url
he gave me) I have found the following conditional statement to return
false...everyti me...

if(typeof docoument.myFor m.myAge.value == 'number')
{ alert("true"); }
else
{ alert("false"); }

The above is for test/example purpose only... could one of you fine
chaps let me know how I could test properly for this?

Replies via the newsgroup would be greatly appreciated so that all other
interested parties can learn to.

Cheers
Randell D.

[RobG]

Randell D. wrote:
[...]

The values I'm talking about will not contain alphabetic characters -
thus numbers of 4.5e3 would not be expected but 4500 might be a
possibility.

Where I have a form called myForm, and an input tag named myAge, how
could I test that it is numeric?

Using the above example provided by Douglas (and after reading the url
he gave me) I have found the following conditional statement to return
false...everyti me...

if(typeof docoument.myFor m.myAge.value == 'number')
{ alert("true"); }
else
{ alert("false"); }
Because the values of form elements are always passed as
strings. However, JavaScript, being such a friendly language,
type converts where appropriate (or possible it seems to me). So
if the value "2" is entered into your myAge input, the following
will return true:

if (...myAge.value == '2' && ...myAge.value == 2)

The above is for test/example purpose only... could one of you fine
chaps let me know how I could test properly for this?
The best (only?) solution is to specify in your page the format
that you will accept and test for it. For age, I would expect
only a positive integer value, so something like:

<label for="myAge">Ple ase enter your age at last
birthday:<input type="text" id="myAge"></label>

and perhaps a similar field for months if that level of accuracy
is required. Alternatively, ask for birth date (don't get
'them' started on dates). Some may claim even using the word
"birthday" is culturally insensitive for those who do not
recognise such things.

Based on the above, refuse any input that didn't pass being
tested for an optional sign "+" and only numbers. That may
tempt the more cantankerous twenty somethings to attempt say
0.028e3, but it's your form and you get to say what they can put
in it.

var a = ...myAge.value;
alert('Happy: ' + /^\s*[+]?\d+\s*$/.test(a));

which will allow leading & trailing space, optional leading "+"
and digits 0-9 and nothing else (lightly tested).

Replies via the newsgroup would be greatly appreciated so that all other
interested parties can learn to.

But of course.
--
Rob

[Dr John Stockton]

JRS: In article <ewYPd.385966$6 l.201761@pd7tw2 no>, dated Mon, 14 Feb
2005 07:34:34, seen in news:comp.lang. javascript, Randell D. <reply.via.
ne************* *******@fiproje cts.moc> posted :

Dr John Stockton wrote:

That will do for testing the nature of the entity provided as a function
parameter, for example; but ISTM that the OP has a control whose .value
is of type string, and wants to know whether that string looks line a
number.

Where I have a form called myForm, and an input tag named myAge, how
could I test that it is numeric?
Read <URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/js-valid.htm>; and decide what
you mean by "numeric".

If you want an age in integer years, test with
/^\d+$/.test(control.v alue)
or /^\d{1,3}$/.test(control.v alue)

Using the above example provided by Douglas (and after reading the url
he gave me) I have found the following conditional statement to return
false...everyt ime...

if(typeof docoument.myFor m.myAge.value == 'number')
{ alert("true"); }
else
{ alert("false"); }

Yes; something.value is generally of type string, not of type number,
unless you have put a number in it "from inside".

Try alert( typeof document.myForm .myAge.value )

And, if possible, copy'n'paste code; re-typing gives typos.
<FAQENTRY> The string 'valid' appears absent; it would be a good term to
search for, otherwise </FAQENTRY>.

--
© John Stockton, Surrey, UK. ?@merlyn.demon. co.uk Turnpike v4.00 IE 4 ©
<URL:http://www.jibbering.c om/faq/> JL/RC: FAQ of news:comp.lang. javascript
<URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/js-index.htm> jscr maths, dates, sources.
<URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/> TP/BP/Delphi/jscr/&c, FAQ items, links.

[Randell D.]

Dr John Stockton wrote:

JRS: In article <ewYPd.385966$6 l.201761@pd7tw2 no>, dated Mon, 14 Feb
2005 07:34:34, seen in news:comp.lang. javascript, Randell D. <reply.via.
ne************* *******@fiproje cts.moc> posted :

Dr John Stockton wrote:

That will do for testing the nature of the entity provided as a function
parameter, for example; but ISTM that the OP has a control whose .value
is of type string, and wants to know whether that string looks line a
number.

Where I have a form called myForm, and an input tag named myAge, how
could I test that it is numeric?

Read <URL:http://www.merlyn.demo n.co.uk/js-valid.htm>; and decide what
you mean by "numeric".

If you want an age in integer years, test with
/^\d+$/.test(control.v alue)
or /^\d{1,3}$/.test(control.v alue)

Using the above example provided by Douglas (and after reading the url
he gave me) I have found the following conditional statement to return
false...every time...

if(typeof docoument.myFor m.myAge.value == 'number')
{ alert("true"); }
else
{ alert("false"); }

Yes; something.value is generally of type string, not of type number,
unless you have put a number in it "from inside".

Try alert( typeof document.myForm .myAge.value )

And, if possible, copy'n'paste code; re-typing gives typos.
<FAQENTRY> The string 'valid' appears absent; it would be a good term to
search for, otherwise </FAQENTRY>.

Thanks - the URL you quoted, which at first proved frightening actually
helped me - I didn't realise that one could quote a regexp like you have
in some of your examples... I come from a unix background so I actually
know what they are doing (because of having some experience with sed,
awk, grep)...

Thanks for that... it should do the trick,

Randell D.