npm package: @stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference
Description: Compute the absolute difference of two real numbers.
Author: The Stdlib Authors
Latest version: 0.3.3

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# Absolute Difference

[![NPM version][npm-image]][npm-url] [![Build Status][test-image]][test-url] [![Coverage Status][coverage-image]][coverage-url] <!-- [![dependencies][dependencies-image]][dependencies-url] -->

> Compute the [absolute difference][absolute-difference] of two real numbers.

<section class="intro">

The [absolute difference][absolute-difference] of two real `numbers` is defined as the absolute value of their difference.

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:absolute_difference" align="center" raw="|\Delta| = | x - y |" alt="Absolute difference"> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="|\Delta| = | x - y |" data-equation="eq:absolute_difference">
    <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/gh/stdlib-js/stdlib@bb29798906e119fcb2af99e94b60407a270c9b32/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/utils/absolute-difference/docs/img/equation_absolute_difference.svg" alt="Absolute difference">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

</section>

<!-- /.intro -->

<section class="installation">

## Installation

```bash
npm install @stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference
```

</section>

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var absdiff = require( '@stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference' );
```

#### absdiff( x, y )

Computes the [absolute difference][absolute-difference] of two real numbers.

```javascript
var d = absdiff( 2.0, 5.0 );
// returns 3.0

d = absdiff( -1.0, 3.14 );
// returns ~4.14

d = absdiff( 10.1, -2.05 );
// returns ~12.15

d = absdiff( -0.0, 0.0 );
// returns +0.0

d = absdiff( NaN, 5.0 );
// returns NaN

d = absdiff( 5.0, NaN );
// returns NaN

d = absdiff( Infinity, Infinity );
// returns NaN

d = absdiff( -Infinity, -Infinity );
// returns NaN

d = absdiff( Infinity, -Infinity );
// returns Infinity

d = absdiff( -Infinity, Infinity );
// returns Infinity
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var randu = require( '@stdlib/random-base-randu' );
var absdiff = require( '@stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference' );

var x;
var y;
var d;
var i;

for ( i = 0; i < 100; i++ ) {
    x = (randu()*1.0e4) - 1.0e2;
    y = (randu()*1.0e4) - 1.0e2;
    d = absdiff( x, y );
    console.log( 'x = %d. y = %d. |x-y| = %d.', x, y, d );
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

<!-- Section for related `stdlib` packages. Do not manually edit this section, as it is automatically populated. -->

<section class="related">

* * *

## See Also

-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/math-base/utils/relative-difference`][@stdlib/math/base/utils/relative-difference]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">compute the relative difference of two real numbers.</span>
-   <span class="package-name">[`@stdlib/math-base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference`][@stdlib/math/base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference]</span><span class="delimiter">: </span><span class="description">compute the relative difference of two real numbers in units of double-precision floating-point epsilon.</span>

</section>

<!-- /.related -->

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<section class="main-repo" >

* * *

## Notice

This package is part of [stdlib][stdlib], a standard library for JavaScript and Node.js, with an emphasis on numerical and scientific computing. The library provides a collection of robust, high performance libraries for mathematics, statistics, streams, utilities, and more.

For more information on the project, filing bug reports and feature requests, and guidance on how to develop [stdlib][stdlib], see the main project [repository][stdlib].

#### Community

[![Chat][chat-image]][chat-url]

---

## License

See [LICENSE][stdlib-license].


## Copyright

Copyright &copy; 2016-2026. The Stdlib [Authors][stdlib-authors].

</section>

<!-- /.stdlib -->

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[npm-url]: https://npmjs.org/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-absolute-difference

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[stdlib-license]: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/stdlib-js/math-base-utils-absolute-difference/main/LICENSE

[absolute-difference]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Absolute_difference

<!-- <related-links> -->

[@stdlib/math/base/utils/relative-difference]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-relative-difference

[@stdlib/math/base/utils/float64-epsilon-difference]: https://www.npmjs.com/package/@stdlib/math-base-utils-float64-epsilon-difference

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</section>

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