Math.max()

The Math.max() function returns the largest of zero or more numbers.

Syntax

JavaScript
Math.max([<var>value1</var>[, <var>value2</var>[, ...]]])

Parameters

value1, value2, ...
Numbers.

Return value

The largest of the given numbers. If at least one of the arguments cannot be converted to a number, NaN is returned.

Description

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

If no arguments are given, the result is -Infinity.

If at least one of arguments cannot be converted to a number, the result is NaN.

Examples

Using Math.max()

JavaScript
Math.max(10, 20);   //  20
Math.max(-10, -20); // -10
Math.max(-10, 20);  //  20

The following function uses Function.prototype.apply() to find the maximum element in a numeric array. getMaxOfArray([1, 2, 3]) is equivalent to Math.max(1, 2, 3), but you can use getMaxOfArray() on programmatically constructed arrays of any size.

JavaScript
function getMaxOfArray(numArray) {
  return Math.max.apply(null, numArray);
}

Or with the new spread operator, getting the maximum of an array becomes a lot easier.

JavaScript
var arr = [1, 2, 3];
var max = Math.max(...arr);

Specifications

Specification Status Comment
ECMAScript 1st Edition (ECMA-262) Standard Initial definition. Implemented in JavaScript 1.0.
ECMAScript 5.1 (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Math.max' in that specification.
Standard  
ECMAScript 2015 (6th Edition, ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Math.max' in that specification.
Standard  
ECMAScript 2017 Draft (ECMA-262)
The definition of 'Math.max' in that specification.
Draft  

Browser compatibility

Feature Chrome Firefox (Gecko) Internet Explorer Opera Safari
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)
Feature Android Chrome for Android Firefox Mobile (Gecko) IE Mobile Opera Mobile Safari Mobile
Basic support (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes) (Yes)

See also

License

© 2016 Mozilla Contributors
Licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License v2.5 or later.
https://developer.mozilla.org/en-us/docs/web/javascript/reference/global_objects/math/max

JavaScript Math Method Reference