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Number() constructor

The Number() constructor creates Number objects. When called as a function, it returns primitive values of type Number.

Syntax

new Number(value)
Number(value)

Note: Number() can be called with or without new, but with different effects. See Return value.

Parameters

value: The numeric value of the object being created.

Return value

When Number is called as a constructor (with new), it creates a Number object, which is not a primitive.

When Number is called as a function, it coerces the parameter to a number primitive. BigInts are converted to numbers. If the value can't be converted, it returns NaN.

Warning: You should rarely find yourself using Number as a constructor.

Examples

Creating Number objects

const a = new Number("123"); // a === 123 is false
const b = Number("123"); // b === 123 is true
a instanceof Number; // is true
b instanceof Number; // is false
typeof a; // "object"
typeof b; // "number"

Using Number() to convert a BigInt to a number

Number() is the only case where a BigInt can be converted to a number without throwing, because it's very explicit.

+1n; // TypeError: Cannot convert a BigInt value to a number
0 + 1n; // TypeError: Cannot mix BigInt and other types, use explicit conversions

Number(1n); // 1

Note that this may result in loss of precision, if the BigInt is too large to be safely represented.

BigInt(Number(2n ** 54n + 1n)) === 2n ** 54n + 1n; // false

Specifications

Specification
ECMAScript Language Specification # sec-number-constructor

Browser compatibility

	Desktop						Mobile						Server
	Chrome	Edge	Firefox	Opera	Safari	Chrome Android	Firefox for Android	Opera Android	Safari on IOS	Samsung Internet	WebView Android	Deno	Node.js
`Number`	1	12	1	3	1	18	4	10.1	1	1.0	4.4	1.0	0.10.0