Clarify Math.abs return value description

[thegiantbeast]

Description

The Math.abs return value description isn't clear, and there was already a previous issue open because of it (#21526).

Motivation

To describe the actual returning value in a more clear way.
Although the explanation in #21526 is correct, the way it's described is not clear at all. So I hope with this PR it can bring some clarity to the matter.

Additional details

Related issues and pull requests

Relates to #21526

[Josh-Cena]

This changes its meaning. Math.abs(-0) returns 0, not -0. -0 and 0 are two distinct values.

[Josh-Cena]

This PR basically just removes a sentence. Why does the extra sentence make this less clear?

[thegiantbeast]

Because when people read it, it sounds like Math.abs(-1) === -1 which is not correct. And I understand that from a mathematical point-of-view are different, but from a validation one, this is true: Math.abs(-0) === 0

[Josh-Cena]

Because when people read it, it sounds like Math.abs(-1) === -1 which is not correct.

I don't understand how that conclusion can be reached from "If x is negative (including -0), returns -x." People are going to misread things but that doesn't mean we should remove it. I'm fine to clarify it in whatever way, but this PR in essence removes it altogether and only keeps the second sentence: "The result is therefore always a positive number or 0." so I fail to see how it's clearer.

And I understand that from a mathematical point-of-view are different, but from a validation one, this is true: Math.abs(-0) === 0

Nope, from a mathematical view, -0 and 0 are equal. They are distinct in floating point. The reason -0 === 0 is because === has this special behavior of conflating -0 with 0. You can try Object.is(-0, 0) and you will get false.

[Josh-Cena]

Thanks 👍

[github-actions]

Preview URLs

• /en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Reference/Global_Objects/Math/abs