indexOf, which many of us have used to ensure that older Microsoft browsers can parse our Javascript, is here at mozilla.org. It contains this curious little line:
var len = t.length >>> 0;
That
>>>operator is the bit-shift operator. It causes a binary right-shift of the bits that make up it's target, by the number of bits passed in the operand. This is something you normally would only use in clever or low-level programming. I don't think I've used bit-shift operators since I was writing a device driver in C about 15 years ago.
So why would you apply a zero operand? Wouldn't that do nothing? What's this all about?
Turns out the answer is simple, and a clever tool to add to your Javascript toolbox. Basically, this ensures that len is a valid number - if t.length exists, is numeric, and is integral. If it's already good, it will be unaffected by the operation. If it's undefined or non-numeric, it will always return zero. Basically, it's shorthand for something like:
parseInt(t.length) || 0
Clever. Learn something new every day.
Or use it to convert a decimal to an int:
ReplyDelete// create a random RGB color value (0-255 inclusive)
Math.random() * 256 >> 0;
e.g.
0.999 * 256 = 255.744
255.744 >> 0 = 255