
FAQ: What is negative Infinity in JavaScript?
FAQ
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What is negative Infinity in JavaScript? In JavaScript, `Negative Infinity` is a constant value that represents a value lower than the lowest representable number. It can be understood as follows:
1. Definition: It’s defined as the value that is lower than any other number. In JavaScript, it can be represented as `-Infinity`.
2. How It’s Obtained: You can get `-Infinity` in several ways, such as dividing a negative number by zero, or as a result of an operation that goes beyond the lower limit of the floating point numbers JavaScript can represent.
3. Usage and Characteristics:
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– It’s a property of the global object, so it can be referred to as `window.-Infinity` in browsers or `global.-Infinity` in Node.js.
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– It behaves according to the rules of arithmetic for infinity: for instance, any negative number multiplied by `-Infinity` gives `Infinity`, and any positive number multiplied by `-Infinity` gives `-Infinity`.
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– It’s useful in scenarios where you need to compare values and you want to start with a value that is guaranteed to be lower than all others.
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– Unlike other numerical values, it’s not considered equal to any other value, including itself. This means `Negative Infinity === Negative Infinity` will return `false`.
4. Type and Checking: In JavaScript, `-Infinity` is a number type. You can check if a value is `-Infinity` using `isFinite()` function which will return `false` for both `Infinity` and `-Infinity`.
5. Differences from Other Languages: The concept of infinity is present in many programming languages, but its implementation and behavior can vary. In JavaScript, the handling of infinity is largely influenced by the IEEE Standard for Floating-Point Arithmetic (IEEE 754).
Remember, while `-Infinity` is a useful concept in certain mathematical or computational scenarios, it requires careful handling to avoid unintended consequences in your programs.
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