max()

[Math]

Description

Calculates the maximum of two numbers.

Syntax

max(x, y)

Parameters

x: the first number, any data type
y: the second number, any data type

Returns

The larger of the two parameter values.

Example Code

sensVal = max(senVal, 20); 
// assigns sensVal to the larger of sensVal or 20
// (effectively ensuring that it is at least 20)

Note

Perhaps counter-intuitively, max() is often used to constrain the lower end of a variable’s range, while min() is used to constrain the upper end of the range.

Warning

Because of the way the max() function is implemented, avoid using other functions inside the brackets, it may lead to incorrect results

max(a--, 0);   // avoid this - yields incorrect results
 
a--;           // use this instead -
max(a, 0);     // keep other math outside the function

See also

• [Language] min()
• [Language] constrain()

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The text of the 86Duino reference is a modification of the Arduino reference and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 3.0 License. Code samples in the reference are released into the public domain.