JavaScript Math.random() explain the difference between Math.ceil() vs Math.floor() vs Math.round()

1. Random number

In JavaScript to generate random number we use Math.random() and it returns number between 0 and 1.

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

console.log(Math.random()); // 0.587777376294869
console.log(Math.random()); // 0.2197126264732836
console.log(Math.random()); // 0.9785932144070053

2. Random number between 0 and 10 - floating point

If we want to get random number between 0 and 10 we just need to multiply the result of Math.random() by 10 and round the result.

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

console.log(Math.random() * 10); // 9.357923991790457
console.log(Math.random() * 10); // 3.5154493888867466
console.log(Math.random() * 10); // 5.1469888802577035

3. Random number between 0 and 10 - integer

Still as we can see the numbers are floating point and usually we want to have integers. Solution is pretty simple and now with help comes 3 methods how we can achieve it:

• Math.round()
• Math.floor()
• Math.ceil()

Below we have explanation points with code examples.

4. Using Math.round()

Math.round() - round to the nearest number (integer eg 1,5,10)
eg:

• 1.23 will be rounded to 1
• 5.92 will be rounded to 6

Example how to generate random number between 0 and 10 with Math.round()

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

console.log(Math.round(1.23)); // 1
console.log(Math.round(5.92)); // 6

console.log(Math.round(Math.random() * 10)); // 2
console.log(Math.round(Math.random() * 10)); // 9
console.log(Math.round(Math.random() * 10)); // 5

5. Using Math.floor()

Math.floor() - round DOWN to the nearest number
eg:

• 1.23 will be rounded to 1
• 5.92 will be rounded to 5

Example how to generate random number between 0 and 10 with Math.floor()

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

console.log(Math.floor(1.23)); // 1
console.log(Math.floor(5.92)); // 5

console.log(Math.floor(Math.random() * 10)); // 3
console.log(Math.floor(Math.random() * 10)); // 1
console.log(Math.floor(Math.random() * 10)); // 6

6. Using Math.ceil()

Math.ceil() - round UP to the nearest number
eg:

• 1.23 will be rounded to 2
• 5.92 will be rounded to 6

Example how to generate random number between 0 and 10 with Math.ceil()

// ONLINE-RUNNER:browser;

console.log(Math.ceil(1.23)); // 2
console.log(Math.ceil(5.92)); // 6

console.log(Math.ceil(Math.random() * 10)); // 5
console.log(Math.ceil(Math.random() * 10)); // 7
console.log(Math.ceil(Math.random() * 10)); // 3

References

1. Math.random method - Mozilla Docs
2. Math.round method - Mozilla Docs
3. Math.floor method - Mozilla Docs
4. Math.ceil method - Mozilla Docs

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