Return a string giving the literal bit representation of a half-precision floating-point number.
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> Return a string giving the literal bit representation of a [half-precision floating-point number][ieee754].
``bash`
npm install @stdlib/number-float16-base-to-binary-string
`javascript`
var toBinaryString = require( '@stdlib/number-float16-base-to-binary-string' );
#### toBinaryString( x )
Returns a string giving the literal bit representation of a [half-precision floating-point number][ieee754].
`javascript
var toFloat16 = require( '@stdlib/number-float64-base-to-float16' );
var str = toBinaryString( toFloat16( 4.0 ) );
// returns '0100010000000000'
str = toBinaryString( toFloat16( 3.1415926 ) );
// returns '0100001001001000'
str = toBinaryString( toFloat16( -1.0e3 ) );
// returns '1110001111010000'
`
The function handles [subnormals][subnormals].
`javascript
var toFloat16 = require( '@stdlib/number-float64-base-to-float16' );
var str = toBinaryString( toFloat16( -3.14e-6 ) );
// returns '1000000000110101'
str = toBinaryString( toFloat16( 1.4e-7 ) );
// returns '0000000000000010'
`
The function handles special values.
`javascript
var PINF = require( '@stdlib/constants-float16-pinf' );
var NINF = require( '@stdlib/constants-float16-ninf' );
var str = toBinaryString( 0.0 );
// returns '0000000000000000'
str = toBinaryString( -0.0 );
// returns '1000000000000000'
str = toBinaryString( NaN );
// returns '0111111000000000'
str = toBinaryString( PINF );
// returns '0111110000000000'
str = toBinaryString( NINF );
// returns '1111110000000000'
`
`javascript
var randu = require( '@stdlib/random-base-randu' );
var round = require( '@stdlib/math-base-special-round' );
var pow = require( '@stdlib/math-base-special-pow' );
var float64ToFloat16 = require( '@stdlib/number-float64-base-to-float16' );
var toBinaryString = require( '@stdlib/number-float16-base-to-binary-string' );
var frac;
var sign;
var exp;
var b;
var x;
var i;
// Convert random numbers to literal bit representations...
for ( i = 0; i < 100; i++ ) {
if ( randu() < 0.5 ) {
sign = -1.0;
} else {
sign = 1.0;
}
frac = randu() * 10.0;
exp = round( randu()*10.0 );
if ( randu() < 0.5 ) {
exp = -exp;
}
x = sign frac pow( 2.0, exp );
x = float64ToFloat16( x );
b = toBinaryString( x );
console.log( b );
}
`
*
This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.
For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].
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---
See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].
Copyright © 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].
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[umd]: https://github.com/umdjs/umd
[es-module]: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/JavaScript/Guide/Modules
[deno-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/tree/deno
[deno-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/blob/deno/README.md
[umd-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/tree/umd
[umd-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/blob/umd/README.md
[esm-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/tree/esm
[esm-readme]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/blob/esm/README.md
[branches-url]: https://github.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/blob/main/branches.md
[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/number-float16-base-to-binary-string/main/LICENSE
[ieee754]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_754-2008
[subnormals]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denormal_number