The Math.imul()
function returns the result of the C-like 32-bit multiplication of the two parameters.
Syntax
var product = Math.imul(a, b);
Parameters
a
- First number.
b
- Second number.
Return value
The result of the C-like 32-bit multiplication of the given arguments.
Description
Math.imul()
allows for 32-bit integer multiplication with C-like semantics. This feature is useful for projects like Emscripten. Because imul()
is a static method of Math
, you always use it as Math.imul()
, rather than as a method of a Math
object you created (Math
is not a constructor). If you use normal JavaScript floating point numbers in imul, you will experience a degrade in performance. This is because of the costly conversion from a floating point to an integer for multiplication, and then converting the multiplied integer back into a floating point. The reason imul exists is because it is faster in only one (so far) circumstance: AsmJS. AsmJS allows for JIST-optimizers to more easily implement internal integers in JavaScript. Multiplying two numbers stored internally as integers (which is only possible with AsmJS) with imul is the only potential circumstance where Math.imul may prove performant in current browsers.
Examples
Using Math.imul()
Math.imul(2, 4); // 8 Math.imul(-1, 8); // -8 Math.imul(-2, -2); // 4 Math.imul(0xffffffff, 5); // -5 Math.imul(0xfffffffe, 5); // -10
Polyfill
This can be emulated with the following function:
Math.imul = Math.imul || function(a, b) { var aHi = (a >>> 16) & 0xffff; var aLo = a & 0xffff; var bHi = (b >>> 16) & 0xffff; var bLo = b & 0xffff; // the shift by 0 fixes the sign on the high part // the final |0 converts the unsigned value into a signed value return ((aLo * bLo) + (((aHi * bLo + aLo * bHi) << 16) >>> 0) | 0); };
Specifications
Specification | Status | Comment |
---|---|---|
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262) The definition of 'Math.imul' in that specification. |
Standard | Initial definition. |
ECMAScript Latest Draft (ECMA-262) The definition of 'Math.imul' in that specification. |
Living Standard |
Browser compatibility
The compatibility table in this page is generated from structured data. If you'd like to contribute to the data, please check out https://github.com/mdn/browser-compat-data and send us a pull request.
Feature | Chrome | Edge | Firefox | Internet Explorer | Opera | Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | 28 | Yes | 20 | No | 16 | 7 |
Feature | Android webview | Chrome for Android | Edge mobile | Firefox for Android | IE mobile | Opera Android | iOS Safari |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Basic support | Yes | Yes | Yes | 20 | No | Yes | 7 |