If you should ever need to parse a number into an array of bits or a different base you can use the following function:

var splitNumber = (function(MAX) {
  for (; MAX + 1 - MAX == 1; MAX *= 2){}
  return function (num, radix) {
    // Validate num
    num = parseInt(num, 10);
    if (!isFinite(num) || 0 > num || num > MAX) {
      throw new Error('splitNumber() num argument must be a non-negative finite number less than ' + MAX);
    }
 
    // Validate radix
    radix = parseInt(radix || 10, 10);
    if (!(1 < radix && radix <= MAX)) {  // Also prevents NaN       throw new Error('splitNumber() radix argument must be greater than 2 and less than ' + MAX);     }   return num.toString(radix).split('');   }; })(1 << 30); [/code] Here is an example of the tests and outputs:

I want to thank ildar for contributing the refinement of this function. 😎


4 Comments

ildar · March 14, 2014 at 8:21 AM

[code language=javascript]
var num = 17;
alert(num.toString(2).split('');
alert(num.toString(8).split('');
[/code]

    Chris West · March 17, 2014 at 1:44 PM

    Good point, that is a much better way to do it. I will update the post shortly. Thanks!

    Chris West · March 17, 2014 at 1:57 PM

    I guess the only difference is that it will produce an array of strings but that is acceptable. Thanks again.

      ildar · March 18, 2014 at 2:19 AM

      Take into account that Number.prototype.toString limits the radix within the range 2 through 36. 🙂

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