Numeric Methods

CXL provides 8 built-in methods for numeric operations. These methods work on both Integer and Float values (the Numeric receiver type). All return null when the receiver is null.

abs() -> Numeric

Returns the absolute value. Preserves the original type (Int stays Int, Float stays Float).

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = (-42).abs()'

{
  "result": 42
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = (-3.14).abs()'

{
  "result": 3.14
}

ceil() -> Int

Rounds up to the nearest integer. Returns the value unchanged for integers.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 3.2.ceil()'

{
  "result": 4
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = (-3.2).ceil()'

{
  "result": -3
}

floor() -> Int

Rounds down to the nearest integer. Returns the value unchanged for integers.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 3.8.floor()'

{
  "result": 3
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = (-3.2).floor()'

{
  "result": -4
}

round([decimals: Int]) -> Float

Rounds to the specified number of decimal places. Default is 0 decimal places.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 3.456.round()'

{
  "result": 3.0
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 3.456.round(2)'

{
  "result": 3.46
}

round_to(decimals: Int) -> Float

Rounds to the specified number of decimal places. Unlike round(), the decimals argument is required.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 3.14159.round_to(3)'

{
  "result": 3.142
}

Use round_to when you want to be explicit about precision in financial or scientific calculations:

$ cxl eval -e 'emit price = 19.995.round_to(2)'

{
  "price": 20.0
}

clamp(min: Numeric, max: Numeric) -> Numeric

Constrains the value to the given range. Returns min if the value is below it, max if above, or the value itself if within range.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 150.clamp(0, 100)'

{
  "result": 100
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = (-5).clamp(0, 100)'

{
  "result": 0
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 50.clamp(0, 100)'

{
  "result": 50
}

min(other: Numeric) -> Numeric

Returns the smaller of the receiver and the argument.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 10.min(20)'

{
  "result": 10
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 10.min(5)'

{
  "result": 5
}

max(other: Numeric) -> Numeric

Returns the larger of the receiver and the argument.

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 10.max(20)'

{
  "result": 20
}

$ cxl eval -e 'emit result = 10.max(5)'

{
  "result": 10
}

Practical examples

Clamp a percentage:

emit pct = (completed / total * 100).clamp(0, 100).round_to(1)

Absolute difference:

emit diff = (actual - expected).abs()

Floor division for batch numbering:

emit batch = (row_number / 1000).floor()