Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

JavaScript JavaScript Basics (Retired) Working With Numbers Numbers and Strings

Josh Puckett
Josh Puckett
2,787 Points
Posted by Josh Puckett
Josh Puckett
2,787 Points

Why is it parseInt(stringVar) and not stringVar.parseInt

Yes I know it doesn't work but what is the technical reason? It seems like it would be a useful string method...

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

That's a cute idea.

I don't know why parseInt was not implemented as a string method. Maybe because it takes one more character to call it that way?

But you can always make it so yourself:

String.prototype.parseInt = function () { return parseInt(this); }

Remember to use parentheses when calling it: "stringVar.parseInt()"

Josh Puckett
Josh Puckett
2,787 Points
Josh Puckett
Josh Puckett
2,787 Points

ty, the only reason I could think of was it was a legacy thing