@stdlib/array-min-dtype NPM

Minimum Data Type

Determine the minimum array data type of the closest "kind" necessary for storing a provided scalar value.

Installation

npm install @stdlib/array-min-dtype

Usage

var minDataType = require( '@stdlib/array-min-dtype' );

minDataType( value )

Returns the minimum array data type of the closest "kind" necessary for storing a provided scalar value.

var dt = minDataType( 3.141592653589793 );
// returns 'float32'

dt = minDataType( -3 );
// returns 'int8'

dt = minDataType( 3 );
// returns 'uint8'

dt = minDataType( '3' );
// returns 'generic'

Notes

The function does not provide precision guarantees for non-integer-valued real numbers. In other words, the function returns the smallest possible floating-point (i.e., inexact) data type for storing numbers having decimals.

Examples

var roundn = require( '@stdlib/math-base-special-roundn' );
var randu = require( '@stdlib/random-base-randu' );
var pow = require( '@stdlib/math-base-special-pow' );
var discreteUniform = require( '@stdlib/random-base-discrete-uniform' );
var minDataType = require( '@stdlib/array-min-dtype' );

var dt;
var v;
var i;

// Generate numbers of varying magnitudes and determine the minimum data type for each value...
for ( i = 0; i < 100; i++ ) {
    v = randu() * pow( 2.0, discreteUniform( 0, 40 ) );
    if ( randu() < 0.5 ) {
        v *= -1;
    }
    v = roundn( v, discreteUniform( -1, 0 ) );
    dt = minDataType( v );
    console.log( 'min(%d) => %s', v, dt );
}

Notice

This package is part of stdlib, a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop stdlib, see the main project repository.