Why does 00.0 cause a syntax error?

Question

This is weird. This is what happens at the JavaScript console in Chrome (version 42.0.2311.135, 64-bit).

> 0 < 0 > 00 < 0 > 0.0 < 0 > 00.0 X Uncaught > SyntaxError: Unexpected number 

Firefox 37.0.2 does the same, although its error message is:

SyntaxError: missing ; before statement 

There's probably some technical explanation regarding the way JavaScript parses numbers, and perhaps it can only happen when tinkering at the console prompt, but it still seems wrong.

Why does it do that?

Answer 1

The expressions 0.0 and 00.0 are parsed differently.

• 0.0 is parsed as a numeric literal ¹
• 00.0 is parsed as:
  • 00 – octal numeric literal ²
  • . – property accessor
  • 0 – identifier name

Your code throws syntax error because 0 is not a valid JavaScript identifier. The following example works since toString is a valid identifier:

00.toString 

¹Section 7.8.3 – Leading 0 can be followed by decimal separator or ExponentPart
²Section B.1.1 – Leading 0 can be followed by OctalDigits

Answer 2

00 is evaluated as an octal number and .0 is evaluated as accessing that number's property. But since integers are not allowed to be used as property accessors, the error is thrown.

You get the same error for any other object:

'string'.0 // Syntax error: unexpected number ({}).0 // Syntax error: unexpected number 

You can find related information about property accessors on MDN.