parseFloat(string:String) : Number

Converts a string to a floating-point number. The function reads, or parses, and returns the numbers in a string until it reaches a character that is not a part of the initial number. If the string does not begin with a number that can be parsed, parseFloat() returns NaN. White space preceding valid integers is ignored, as are trailing nonnumeric characters.

Parameters

string:String - The string to read and convert to a floating-point number.

Returns

Number - A number or NaN (not a number).

Example

The following examples use the parseFloat() function to evaluate various types of numbers:

trace(parseFloat("-2")); // output: -2
trace(parseFloat("2.5")); // output: 2.5
trace(parseFloat(" 2.5")); // output: 2.5
trace(parseFloat("3.5e6")); // output: 3500000
trace(parseFloat("foobar")); // output: NaN
trace(parseFloat("3.75math")); // output: 3.75
trace(parseFloat("0garbage")); // output: 0

See also

NaN constant, parseInt function