Multiplication (*)

The multiplication (*) operator produces the product of the operands.

Try it

console.log(3 * 4);
// Expected output: 12

console.log(-3 * 4);
// Expected output: -12

console.log("3" * 2);
// Expected output: 6

console.log("foo" * 2);
// Expected output: NaN

Syntax

js
x * y

Description

The * operator is overloaded for two types of operands: number and BigInt. It first coerces both operands to numeric values and tests the types of them. It performs BigInt multiplication if both operands become BigInts; otherwise, it performs number multiplication. A TypeError is thrown if one operand becomes a BigInt but the other becomes a number.

Examples

undefined

Multiplication using numbers

js
2 * 2; // 4
-2 * 2; // -4

Infinity * 0; // NaN
Infinity * Infinity; // Infinity

Other non-BigInt values are coerced to numbers:

js
"foo" * 2; // NaN
"2" * 2; // 4

Multiplication using BigInts

js
2n * 2n; // 4n
-2n * 2n; // -4n

You cannot mix BigInt and number operands in multiplication.

js
2n * 2; // TypeError: Cannot mix BigInt and other types, use explicit conversions
2 * 2n; // TypeError: Cannot mix BigInt and other types, use explicit conversions

To do multiplication with a BigInt and a non-BigInt, convert either operand:

js
2n * BigInt(2); // 4n
Number(2n) * 2; // 4

Specifications

See also