Math.max

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

Syntax

Math.max([value1[, value2[, ...]]])

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()

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.

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

Array.reduce() can also be used to get the maximum of an array, by comparing each value.

var arr = [1,2,3];
var max = arr.reduce(function(a, b) {
    return Math.max(a, b);
});

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

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

See also

• Math.min()