What makes Javascript's Math.floor the least efficient method for calculating floor values in Javascript?

Typically, I'm not a big fan of microbenchmarks. However, this particular one unveils a fascinating revelation.

The findings suggest that using Math.floor is actually the SLOWEST method for calculating floor in Javascript. Surprisingly, ~~n, n|n, and n&n all prove to be quicker alternatives.
This discovery is quite astonishing, especially considering the expertise of those working on Javascript implementations in modern browsers today.

Could it be that floor serves a unique purpose that the other techniques do not fulfill? Is there still a valid reason to use it?

Answer №1

The main reason why Math.floor may be slower (although in some tests it has been shown to be faster) is due to the function call involved. In older JavaScript implementations, function calls could not be inlined. Newer engines can inline the call or speed up the property lookup, but a guard condition is still needed in case the Math.floor function was overwritten. The overhead is minimal, so there isn't much difference in speed.

Moreover, as pointed out in various comments, the alternative methods are not identical. They rely on bitwise operations, which automatically convert operands to 32-bit integers by truncating the number. This works well for numbers within 32 bits, but JavaScript numbers are 64-bit floats, which can exceed 2147483647.

Furthermore, negative numbers produce different results since converting them to integers truncates, while Math.floor always rounds down. For instance, Math.floor(-2.1) === -3, whereas (-2.1) | (-2.1) === -2.

If you are absolutely certain that you only have positive numbers below 2147483648 and want optimal performance in older browsers (after verifying that it is actually the bottleneck), consider using an even simpler method: x|0. This avoids evaluating the variable twice and functions correctly even if x is an expression (just remember to use parentheses to avoid precedence issues).

Answer №2

Modern browsers play no role in this - it all boils down to adhering to the ECMA standard. One cannot simply alter how a particular function operates, even if there is a quicker method available. Doing so could potentially disrupt existing code.

The complexities of Math.Floor necessitate consideration of various scenarios when handling different data types. While shortcuts may have been possible in certain instances as you suggested, they could have had unintended consequences on other scenarios. Just because something seems minor at face value, doesn't mean there isn't a larger issue lurking beneath the surface.

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