Exponents in JavaScript

1. Math.pow() to Get Exponent in JavaScript
2. Exponentiation Operator ** in JavaScript

This tutorial teaches how to get the exponents of a number in JavaScript. JavaScript provides us two ways to achieve this. We can use either the Math.pow() function or the exponentiation operator **.

Math.pow() to Get Exponent in JavaScript

The Math.pow() function is used to calculate the power of a number i.e., calculate the base to the power of exponent (base^exponent). It returns NaN if the base is negative and the exponent is not an integer. It is a static function and always used as Math.pow() and not as an object of the Math class.

Syntax of Math.pow()

Math.pow(base, exponent)

Math.pow() Parameters

• base: It is the base number that is to be raised.
• exponent: It is the value used to raise the base.

Return Value of Math.pow()

The Math.pow() method returns (base^exponent).

Example of Using Math.pow()

console.log(Math.pow(7, 2));
console.log(Math.pow(4, 0.5)));
console.log(Math.pow(7, -2));
console.log(Math.pow(-7, 2));
console.log(Math.pow(-7, 1 / 3));

Output:

49
2
0.020408163265306124
49
NaN

All the major browsers support this method.

Exponentiation Operator ** in JavaScript

The exponentiation operator (**) returns the result of raising the base to the power of the exponent i.e. (base^exponent). It is a right-associative operator and hence a ** b ** c is the same as a ** (b ** c).

Example

2 ** 3    // 8
NaN ** 2  // NaN
3 ** 2.5  // 15.588457268119896
10 ** -1  // 0.1

Its advantage is that it also supports Big Integers, but at the same time, it has the disadvantage that we have to keep negative bases in parenthesis.