UNB/ CS/ David Bremner/ teaching/ cs2613/ books/ mdn/ Reference/ Global Objects/ Math/ Math.min()

The Math.min() static method returns the smallest of the numbers given as input parameters, or Infinity if there are no parameters.

Syntax

Math.min()
Math.min(value1)
Math.min(value1, value2)
Math.min(value1, value2, /* …, */ valueN)

Parameters

Return value

The smallest of the given numbers. Returns NaN if any of the parameters is or is converted into NaN. Returns Infinity if no parameters are provided.

Description

Because min() is a static method of Math, you always use it as Math.min(), rather than as a method of a Math object you created (Math is not a constructor).

Math.min.length is 2, which weakly signals that it's designed to handle at least two parameters.

Examples

Using Math.min()

This finds the min of x and y and assigns it to z:

const x = 10;
const y = -20;
const z = Math.min(x, y); // -20

Clipping a value with Math.min()

Math.min() is often used to clip a value so that it is always less than or equal to a boundary. For instance, this

let x = f(foo);

if (x > boundary) {
  x = boundary;
}

may be written as this

const x = Math.min(f(foo), boundary);

Math.max can be used in a similar way to clip a value at the other end.

Specifications

Browser compatibility

See also