difference between numbers using or without using variable

Question

What\'s the difference between the following code?

var a = 1;
a.toString(); // outputs: \"1\"

But this throws an error:

1.t         


        

Answer 1

The toString() method returns a string representing object.

So when you call:

a.toString();

You are actually operating on an object. You are actually creating a built-in object when you define a variable(in this case it is a number).

When you do this:

1.toString();

toString() doesn't see 1 as an object or a variable(both are the same in this scenario) because it fails the rule:

Variable must begin with a letter

Here 1 doesn't begin with a letter. So toString() knows it is not operating on an object and throws an error.

Answer 2

With method invocations, it is important to distinguish between the floating-point dot and the method invocation dot. Thus, you cannot write 1.toString(); you must use one of the following alternatives:

1..toString()
1 .toString() //space before dot
(1).toString()
1.0.toString()

Answer 3

Try to Change the Syntax,

(1).toString()

Numbers can have decimals, so the syntax for ending in a decimal is a bit ambiguous when you go to parse the code, use parenthesis to be valid. It's a bit clearer when you see that this is also valid:

(1.).toString()

However with just

1.toString() it's trying to parse as a number with a decimal, and it fails.