parseInt method in javascript is returning a junk value

Question

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Why does parseInt(1/0, 19) return 18?

I was parsing an integer from the result of an expression in javascript. The expression was (a/b,24), and it is in a method, so I do not have a check on division by zero. and I am parsing the integer as parseInt(a/b,24)

But I found an unusual thing in it when a=1, b=0 the result was 151176378.

Please explain the reason for this discrepancies.

Appreciate any suggestion.

Isn't `a=1, b=0 - a/b` going to cause "divide by 0" problems? — freefaller, Jul 13 '12 at 08:59
It should give an error, but it is returning that value, any idea, how? — Sashi Kant, Jul 13 '12 at 09:00
Here's your answer... http://stackoverflow.com/questions/11340673/why-does-parseint1-0-19-return-18 — freefaller, Jul 13 '12 at 09:06
Why on earth are people allowing div by zero errors and then parsing to a weird base and wondering about strange results??? — Christoph, Jul 13 '12 at 09:16
@Christoph: This line is written in my method in which a, b comes as a parameter. — Sashi Kant, Jul 13 '12 at 09:19
Sure, but does that hinder you to do a check `(b)?parseInt(..):"error"`? — Christoph, Jul 13 '12 at 09:47

score 3 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 13 '12 at 09:16

3

When you run parseInt(a/b, 24) you are attempting to parse the result of a/b in base 24 (no idea what this number system would look like).

a/b returns Infinity which is converted to the string value "Infinity" and then parsed using base 24 so you would get the same result with parseInt("Infinity", 24). You would get a result of NaN with any base of 18 or less (i.e. parseInt(1/0, 18)).

edited Jul 13 '12 at 09:16

Gustav Barkefors

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answered Jul 13 '12 at 09:06

detaylor

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You can't use backslash `\\` as operator for division. This leads to syntax error! – core1024 Jul 13 '12 at 09:12
@core1024, must remember to proof read. – detaylor Jul 13 '12 at 09:52

parseInt method in javascript is returning a junk value

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