BigInt or External Libraries: How Should JavaScript Handle Large Numbers?

Handling Large Numbers in JavaScript: Native BigInt vs. External Libraries

JavaScript lacks a built-in solution for handling large numbers, leaving developers with two primary options:

Option 1: External Libraries

Loading external libraries like the ones mentioned in the question is a common approach. However, this comes with potential drawbacks such as slower loading times and security concerns.

Option 2: Native BigInt (modern browsers only)

Since August 2019, Firefox and Chrome have supported the BigInt data type, providing a native solution for working with large numbers. This eliminates the need for external libraries:

const bigInt1 = 1111111111111111111111111111111n;
const bigInt2 = BigInt("1111111111111111111111111111111")
console.log((bigInt1 + bigInt2)+"")

Custom Implementations

Alternatively, developers can create their own BigInt implementations based on existing libraries like "javascript-biginteger" or "euler.html." However, this requires coding effort and validation to ensure accuracy and performance.

Java Bignum Libraries

In cases where JavaScript's native BigInt is insufficient, developers may consider calling into Java bignum libraries like apfloat. However, this approach involves potential cross-language interoperability challenges and the requirement for a Java runtime environment.

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