Unsigned 32 bit integers in Javascript

user1367401 picture user1367401 · Jul 28, 2012 · Viewed 7.6k times · Source

How can I emulate 32bit unsiged integers without any external dependencies in Javascript? Tricks with x >>> 0 or x | 0 don't work (for multiplication, they seem to work for addition / subtraction), and doubles lose precision during multiplication.

For example, try to multiply 2654435769 * 340573321 (mod 2^32). The result should be 1.

This answer has multiplication. What about addition / subtraction / division?

Here's a link to wolfram alpha, presenting the equation above.

Answer

ephemient picture ephemient · Jul 28, 2012

A 32-bit unsigned int fits within Javascript's 64-bit float -- there should be no loss of precision when performing addition, subtraction, or division. Just mask with 0xffffffff to stay within a 32-bit integer. Multiplication goes beyond what fits, but you already have a solution for that.