math.js — Extensive Math Library for JavaScript

Introduction

math.js is a comprehensive mathematics library for JavaScript and Node.js. It provides a flexible expression parser, supports a wide range of data types including complex numbers, big numbers, fractions, units, and matrices, and offers hundreds of built-in functions. It serves as the go-to math library when native JavaScript arithmetic is not enough.

What math.js Does

• Parses and evaluates mathematical expressions from strings
• Supports complex numbers, fractions, big numbers, and units
• Provides matrix and linear algebra operations
• Includes a symbolic computation engine for simplification and derivatives
• Offers both a chained API and a functional programming style

Architecture Overview

math.js is built around a dependency injection system that allows tree-shaking unused functions. The expression parser tokenizes input into an AST, which is then compiled into an efficient evaluation function. Data types like BigNumber, Complex, Unit, and Matrix are first-class objects with operator overloading. The library supports custom function and constant registration, making it extensible for domain-specific use cases.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Install via npm: npm install mathjs
• Import the full library or use create() with specific factories for smaller bundles
• Configure precision for big numbers via math.config({ number: 'BigNumber', precision: 64 })
• Register custom functions with math.import({ myFunc: (x) => x * 2 })
• Use in the browser via bundlers or a CDN script tag

Key Features

• Expression parser with variable scope and function definitions
• Arbitrary precision arithmetic via BigNumber support
• Physical unit conversions (meters, joules, seconds, etc.)
• Sparse and dense matrix types with decomposition algorithms
• Chainable API for readable mathematical pipelines

Comparison with Similar Tools

• decimal.js — focused on arbitrary precision decimals; math.js wraps it and adds matrices, units, and parsing
• NumPy (Python) — the Python equivalent; math.js brings similar capabilities to JavaScript
• algebra.js — limited to polynomial algebra; math.js covers far more ground
• numbers.js — smaller scope with basic stats and calculus; math.js is more comprehensive

FAQ

Q: Can I use math.js for unit conversions? A: Yes. Use math.unit('5 inch').to('cm') to convert between physical units.

Q: Does math.js support big number arithmetic? A: Yes. Configure the library to use BigNumber as the default number type for arbitrary precision calculations.

Q: How do I evaluate user-supplied expressions safely? A: Use a limited parser scope and avoid exposing dangerous functions. The expression parser does not execute arbitrary JavaScript.

Q: Can I tree-shake unused functions? A: Yes. Use create() with only the factories you need to produce a smaller bundle.

Sources

• https://github.com/josdejong/mathjs
• https://mathjs.org/docs/