mathjs/docs/configuration.md

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# Configuration
Math.js contains a number of configuration options. There are two ways to
configure math.js:
- Configure an existing instance of math.js using `math.config(options)`,
for example `math.config({number: 'bignumber'})` to change to BigNumbers.
- Create and configure a new instance of math.js using `math.create([options])`,
for example `var bigmath = math.create({number: 'bignumber'})` to create a new
instance configured to use BigNumbers.
The following configuration options are available:
- `epsilon`. The minimum relative difference used to test equality between two
compared values. This value is used by all relational functions.
Default value is `1e-14`.
- `matrix`. The default type of matrix output for functions.
Available values are: `'matrix'` (default) or `'array'`.
Where possible, the type of matrix output from functions is determined from
the function input: An array as input will return an Array, a Matrix as input
will return a Matrix. In case of no matrix as input, the type of output is
determined by the option `matrix`. In case of mixed matrix
inputs, a matrix will be returned always.
- `number`. The default type of numbers. This setting is used by functions
like `eval `which cannot determine the correct type of output from the
functions input. For most functions though, the type of output is determined
from the the input: a number as input will return a number as output,
a BigNumber as input returns a BigNumber as output.
Available values are: `'number'` (default) or `'bignumber'`.
BigNumbers have higher precision than the default numbers of JavaScript.
- `precision`. The maximum number of significant digits for bigNumbers.
This setting only applies to BigNumbers, not to numbers.
Default value is `64`.
## Examples
This section shows a number of configuration examples.
### node.js
```js
// load the default instance of math.js
var math = require('mathjs');
// range will output a Matrix
math.range(0, 4); // Matrix [0, 1, 2, 3]
// create a new instance configured to use Arrays
var math2 = math.create({
matrix: 'array' // Choose 'matrix' (default) or 'array'
});
// range will output an Array
math2.range(0, 4); // Array [0, 1, 2, 3]
// change the configuration of math2 from Arrays to Matrices
math2.config({
matrix: 'matrix' // Choose 'matrix' (default) or 'array'
});
// range will output a Matrix
math2.range(0, 4); // Matrix [0, 1, 2, 3]
// create an instance of math.js with bignumber configuration
var bigmath = math.create({
number: 'bignumber', // Choose 'number' (default) or 'bignumber'
precision: 32 // 64 by default, only applicable for BigNumbers
});
// parser will parse numbers as BigNumber now:
bigmath.eval('1 / 3'); // BigNumber, 0.33333333333333333333333333333333
```
### browser
```html
<!DOCTYPE HTML>
<html>
<head>
<script src="math.js" type="text/javascript"></script>
</head>
<body>
<script type="text/javascript">
// the default instance of math.js is available as 'math'
// range will output a Matrix
math.range(0, 4); // Matrix [0, 1, 2, 3]
// change the configuration of math from Matrices to Arrays
math.config({
matrix: 'array' // Choose 'matrix' (default) or 'array'
});
// range will output an Array
math.range(0, 4); // Array [0, 1, 2, 3]
// create a new instance of math.js with bignumber configuration
var bigmath = math.create({
number: 'bignumber', // Choose 'number' (default) or 'bignumber'
precision: 32 // 64 by default, only applicable for BigNumbers
});
// parser will parse numbers as BigNumber now:
bigmath.eval('1 / 3'); // BigNumber, 0.33333333333333333333333333333333
</script>
</body>
</html>
```