Question

If I try to write

3.toFixed(5)

there is a syntax error. Using double dots, putting in a space, putting the three in parentheses or using bracket notation allows it to work properly.

3..toFixed(5)
3 .toFixed(5)
(3).toFixed(5)
3["toFixed"](5)

Why doesn’t the single dot notation work and which one of these alternatives should I use instead?

Answer 1

The period is part of the number, so the code will be interpreted the same as:

(3.)toFixed(5)

This will naturally give a syntax error, as you can’t immediately follow the number with an identifier.

Any method that keeps the period from being interpreted as part of the number would work. I think that the clearest way is to put parentheses around the number:

(3).toFixed(5)