Modern JavaScript (ES2020)

BigInt

Work with huge numbers - beyond JavaScript's limits!

Find videos you like?

Save to resource drawer for future reference!

What is BigInt?

BigInt is a new number type for working with arbitrarily large integers! Regular numbers in JavaScript are limited to ±2^53, but BigInt lets you work with numbers as large as your memory allows. Perfect for cryptography, timestamps, and huge calculations!

The Number Limit Problem

JavaScript numbers can only safely go up to 9007199254740991(Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER). Above that, precision is lost. BigInt solves this!

🔢Creating BigInt Values

Add 'n' suffix

123n

🔧

BigInt() function

BigInt(123)

Example 1: Working with Large Numbers

BigInt handles numbers beyond JavaScript's safe integer limit

javascript

code

DarkEditable

// Regular number precision loss
const bigNum = 9007199254740992;
console.log(bigNum);      // 9007199254740992
console.log(bigNum + 1);  // 9007199254740992 ❌ (no change!)
console.log(bigNum + 2);  // 9007199254740994 ❌ (skipped 993!)

// BigInt - no precision loss!
const bigInt = 9007199254740992n;
console.log(bigInt);      // 9007199254740992n
console.log(bigInt + 1n); // 9007199254740993n ✅
console.log(bigInt + 2n); // 9007199254740994n ✅

// Creating BigInt
const big1 = 123456789012345678901234567890n;
const big2 = BigInt("123456789012345678901234567890");
const big3 = BigInt(123);

console.log(big1);  // 123456789012345678901234567890n
console.log(big2);  // 123456789012345678901234567890n
console.log(big3);  // 123n

// Math operations
const a = 100n;
const b = 50n;

console.log(a + b);   // 150n
console.log(a - b);   // 50n
console.log(a * b);   // 5000n
console.log(a / b);   // 2n (integer division!)
console.log(a % b);   // 0n
console.log(a ** b);  // 100^50 (huge number!)

// Comparisons work
console.log(10n > 5n);    // true
console.log(10n === 10n); // true
console.log(10n == 10);   // true (loose equality)
console.log(10n === 10);  // false (different types)

Console Output

Click "Run Code" to see output here...

Example 2: Real-World Use Cases

Practical scenarios for BigInt

javascript

code

DarkEditable

// 1. Timestamps in nanoseconds
const nanoTimestamp = BigInt(Date.now()) * 1000000n;
console.log(nanoTimestamp);
// 1702589123456789000n

// 2. Cryptocurrency calculations (avoid decimals with large amounts)
const satoshis = 100000000n;  // 1 Bitcoin = 100 million satoshis
const bitcoins = 21000000n;   // Total supply
const totalSatoshis = satoshis * bitcoins;
console.log(totalSatoshis);
// 2100000000000000n

// 3. Large ID numbers
const userId = 987654321098765432109876543210n;
console.log(userId);
// 987654321098765432109876543210n

// 4. Factorial of large numbers
function factorial(n) {
  if (n <= 1n) return 1n;
  return n * factorial(n - 1n);
}

console.log(factorial(20n));
// 2432902008176640000n
// Regular Number would lose precision!

// 5. Convert between BigInt and Number
const big = 100n;
const num = Number(big);
console.log(num);  // 100 (regular number)

const big2 = BigInt(123);
console.log(big2);  // 123n

// ⚠️ Warning: Converting huge BigInt to Number loses precision!
const huge = 12345678901234567890n;
console.log(Number(huge));  // 12345678901234567000 (precision lost)

Console Output

Click "Run Code" to see output here...

⚠️Important Limitations

❌ Can't Mix with Numbers

Cannot perform operations between BigInt and Number directly

10n + 5  // ❌ TypeError!
10n + 5n // ✅ Works!

⚠️ No Math Object Methods

Math.sqrt(),Math.pow() don't work with BigInt

ℹ️ Division is Integer Only

10n / 3n = 3n (not 3.333...)

💡 JSON Doesn't Support BigInt

Need to convert to string for JSON: bigInt.toString()

Key Takeaways

∞

Unlimited Size

Work with integers of any size

Add 'n' Suffix

123n creates BigInt literal

⚠️

Can't Mix Types

Must convert between BigInt and Number

🎯

Use Cases

Crypto, timestamps, large IDs, precise calculations

Previous Topic

Nullish Coalescing

?? operator for default values with null/undefined (ES2020).

Next Topic

Promise.allSettled

Waiting for all promises to complete regardless of rejection (ES2020).

Ask a Question

Have a question about BigInt? Ask our AI assistant.

🔐 Login to use AI Assistant

JavaScript Code Editor

Write and experiment with JavaScript code.

Output

Click "Run Code" to see the output.

Modern JavaScript (ES2020)

BigInt

Work with huge numbers - beyond JavaScript's limits!

Find videos you like?

Save to resource drawer for future reference!

What is BigInt?

The Number Limit Problem

JavaScript numbers can only safely go up to 9007199254740991(Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER). Above that, precision is lost. BigInt solves this!

🔢Creating BigInt Values

Add 'n' suffix

123n

🔧

BigInt() function

BigInt(123)

Example 1: Working with Large Numbers

BigInt handles numbers beyond JavaScript's safe integer limit

javascript

code

DarkEditable

// Creating BigInt
const big1 = 123456789012345678901234567890n;
const big2 = BigInt("123456789012345678901234567890");
const big3 = BigInt(123);

console.log(big1);  // 123456789012345678901234567890n
console.log(big2);  // 123456789012345678901234567890n
console.log(big3);  // 123n

// Math operations
const a = 100n;
const b = 50n;

// Comparisons work
console.log(10n > 5n);    // true
console.log(10n === 10n); // true
console.log(10n == 10);   // true (loose equality)
console.log(10n === 10);  // false (different types)

Console Output

Click "Run Code" to see output here...

Example 2: Real-World Use Cases

Practical scenarios for BigInt

javascript

code

DarkEditable

// 1. Timestamps in nanoseconds
const nanoTimestamp = BigInt(Date.now()) * 1000000n;
console.log(nanoTimestamp);
// 1702589123456789000n

// 3. Large ID numbers
const userId = 987654321098765432109876543210n;
console.log(userId);
// 987654321098765432109876543210n

// 4. Factorial of large numbers
function factorial(n) {
  if (n <= 1n) return 1n;
  return n * factorial(n - 1n);
}

console.log(factorial(20n));
// 2432902008176640000n
// Regular Number would lose precision!

// 5. Convert between BigInt and Number
const big = 100n;
const num = Number(big);
console.log(num);  // 100 (regular number)

const big2 = BigInt(123);
console.log(big2);  // 123n

// ⚠️ Warning: Converting huge BigInt to Number loses precision!
const huge = 12345678901234567890n;
console.log(Number(huge));  // 12345678901234567000 (precision lost)

Console Output

Click "Run Code" to see output here...

⚠️Important Limitations

❌ Can't Mix with Numbers

Cannot perform operations between BigInt and Number directly

10n + 5  // ❌ TypeError!
10n + 5n // ✅ Works!

⚠️ No Math Object Methods

Math.sqrt(),Math.pow() don't work with BigInt

ℹ️ Division is Integer Only

10n / 3n = 3n (not 3.333...)

💡 JSON Doesn't Support BigInt

Need to convert to string for JSON: bigInt.toString()

Key Takeaways

∞

Unlimited Size

Work with integers of any size

Add 'n' Suffix

123n creates BigInt literal

⚠️

Can't Mix Types

Must convert between BigInt and Number

🎯

Use Cases

Crypto, timestamps, large IDs, precise calculations

Coder Pod - Learn Programming Online | AI Coding Tutor & Interview Practice

Nullish Coalescing

Promise.allSettled

JavaScript Code Editor

Building Your Learning Module...

BigInt

What is BigInt?

The Number Limit Problem

Add 'n' suffix

BigInt() function

Example 1: Working with Large Numbers

Example 2: Real-World Use Cases

❌ Can't Mix with Numbers

⚠️ No Math Object Methods

ℹ️ Division is Integer Only

💡 JSON Doesn't Support BigInt

Key Takeaways

Unlimited Size

Add 'n' Suffix

Can't Mix Types

Use Cases

Nullish Coalescing

Promise.allSettled

JavaScript Code Editor

BigInt

What is BigInt?

The Number Limit Problem

Add 'n' suffix

BigInt() function

Example 1: Working with Large Numbers

Example 2: Real-World Use Cases

❌ Can't Mix with Numbers

⚠️ No Math Object Methods

ℹ️ Division is Integer Only

💡 JSON Doesn't Support BigInt

Key Takeaways

Unlimited Size

Add 'n' Suffix

Can't Mix Types

Use Cases