JavaScript Program to Handle Number Overflow

Number overflow occurs when the result of a mathematical operation exceeds the maximum representable value for a numeric data type. In JavaScript, this limit is reached when dealing with numbers beyond the safe range defined by the Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER constant, which is approximately 9 quadrillion (9 followed by 15 zeros).

Overflow can lead to inaccurate calculations, unexpected behavior, and even program crashes. It’s crucial to handle this situation gracefully to ensure the reliability and robustness of your JavaScript applications.

Example:

Javascript

const num1 = Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER+1;
const num2 = Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER+2;
console.log("max number:",Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER)
console.log("after adding 1 and 2",num1, num2)
console.log("Comparing both numbers:",num1===num2)

Output

max number: 9007199254740991
after adding 1 and 2 9007199254740992 9007199254740992
Comparing both numbers: true

It shows inaccurate results when it exceeds the maximum representable value.

Approach 1: Using BigInt

JavaScript’s BigInt data type allows you to work with arbitrarily large integers. Here’s an example of using BigInt to handle large numbers:

Example: This example shows the use of the above-explained approach.

Javascript

const largeNumber =
    BigInt(Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER) + BigInt(1);
console.log("Large Number:", largeNumber);

Output

Large Number: 9007199254740992n

Approach 2: Modular Arithmetic

Modular arithmetic can be useful for tasks like calculating remainders. For instance, to find the remainder when a large number is divided by another number, you can use the `%` operator.

Example: This example shows the use if the above-explained approach.

Javascript

const largeNumber = 12345678901234567890n;
const divisor = 7n;
const remainder = largeNumber % divisor;
console.log("Remainder:", remainder);

Output

Remainder: 1n

Approach 3: Error Handling

To gracefully handle potential overflows, you can implement error handling with conditional statements.

Example: Here’s an example of error handleing for number overflow.

Javascript

function performCalculation() {
  const num1 = Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER;
  const num2 = Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER;

  // This addition will cause an overflow
  return num1 + num2;
}
const result = performCalculation();
if (result > Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER) {
  console.error(
      "Overflow detected: Result exceeds safe integer limit.");
} else {
  console.log("Result:", result);
}

Output:

Overflow detected: Result exceeds safe integer limit.

Approach 4: Library Utilization

Using libraries like BigNumber.js provides an effective way to perform high-precision arithmetic in JavaScript. First, install the library: (Bash Command)

npm install bignumber.js

Example: This example shows the use of the above-explained approach.

Javascript

const BigNumber = require("bignumber.js");
const num1 =
    new BigNumber(
        "1234567890123456789012345678901234567890");
const num2 =
    new BigNumber(
        "9876543210987654321098765432109876543210");
const result = num1.plus(num2);
console.log("Result:", result.toString());

Output:

Result: 1.11111111011111111101111111110111111111e+40