Shortest code to check if a number is in a range in JavaScript

Question

This is how I checkout to see if a number is in a range (in between two other numbers):

var a = 10,
    b = 30,
    x = 15,
    y = 35;

x < Math.max(a,b) && x > Math.min(a,b) // -> true
y < Math.max(a,b) && y > Math.min(a,b) // -> false

I have to do this math in my code a lot and I'm looking for shorter equivalent code.

This is a shorter version I came up with. But I am sure it can get much shorter:

a < x && x < b
true
a < y && y < b
false

But downside is I have to repeat x or y

a<x&x<b will return 1 or 0, and is 7 characters shorter. — beary605, Oct 10, 2012 at 1:16
For code-golf purposes beary605's solution is best, but if you're using the code a lot you'd be better off declaring a function like within(a,b) or inrange(a,b) somewhere in your code and using that. It's instantly obvious what it does and therefore easier to maintain in the future. — Gareth, Oct 10, 2012 at 11:19
beary605, your solution won't work because it will always return 0 when b<a even if x is in between a and b (for example when a=20; b=10; x=15) — Yellos, Oct 19, 2012 at 22:23
@Yellos a is supposed to be the minimum while b is max. Your example shows the minimum higher than the maximum! — bryc, Dec 30, 2016 at 22:52

AMK · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-10 13:19:20Z

13

13 chars, checks both variants a<b and b<a

(x-a)*(x-b)<0

In C may be used expression (may be also in JavaScript). 11 chars, No multiplications (fast)

(x-a^x-b)<0

answered Oct 10, 2012 at 13:11

AMK

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Yellos · Accepted Answer · 2012-10-19 22:29:45Z

9

a<x==x<b

JavaScript, 8 chars.

answered Oct 19, 2012 at 22:29

Yellos

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1

\$\begingroup\$ 0<0==0<1 -> false \$\endgroup\$
– Mohsen
Oct 20, 2012 at 0:28
\$\begingroup\$ I like Yellos answer. And 0>=0==0<1 returns true \$\endgroup\$
– tim
Jul 10, 2013 at 23:43
1

\$\begingroup\$ @Mohsen the OP's request was a number in between two limiting numbers, not including them. Therefore, 0<0==0<1 should return false, because in that case, 0 is the lower limit, but also the number that should be in between the range. And they are equal. \$\endgroup\$
– gilad905
Apr 10, 2017 at 14:16

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Community · Accepted Answer · 2020-06-17 09:04:33Z

3

JavaScript, 7 bytes

a<n&n<b

CommunityBot

1

answered Dec 11, 2019 at 23:28

1313 bronze badges

\$\begingroup\$ Golfed: a<n<b \$\endgroup\$
– user85052
Dec 12, 2019 at 12:49
5

\$\begingroup\$ @A̲̲ That doesn't work in Javascript \$\endgroup\$
– Jo King ♦
Dec 12, 2019 at 12:52

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