2016-02-14-calculate-the-max-min-value-from-an-array.md

title: Calculate the Max/Min value from an array tip-number: 45 tip-username: loverajoel tip-username-profile: https://www.twitter.com/loverajoel tip-tldr: Ways to use the built-in functions Math.max() and Math.min() with arrays of numbers tip-writer-support: https://www.coinbase.com/loverajoel

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The built-in functions Math.max() and Math.min() find the maximum and minimum value of the arguments, respectively.

Math.max(1, 2, 3, 4); // 4
Math.min(1, 2, 3, 4); // 1

These functions will not work as-is with arrays of numbers. However, there are some ways around this.

Function.prototype.apply() allows you to call a function with a given this value and an array of arguments.

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4];
Math.max.apply(null, numbers); // 4
Math.min.apply(null, numbers); // 1

Passing the numbers array as the second argument of apply() results in the function being called with all values in the array as parameters.

A simpler, ES2015 way of accomplishing this is with the new spread operator.

var numbers = [1, 2, 3, 4];
Math.max(...numbers); // 4
Math.min(...numbers); // 1

This operator causes the values in the array to be expanded, or "spread", into the function's arguments.