fabs, fabsf, fabsl, fabsd32, fabsd64, fabsd128

Defined in header `<math.h>`
float fabsf( float arg );	(1)	(since C99)
double fabs( double arg );	(2)
long double fabsl( long double arg );	(3)	(since C99)
_Decimal32 fabsd32( _Decimal32 arg );	(4)	(since C23)
_Decimal64 fabsd64( _Decimal64 arg );	(5)	(since C23)
_Decimal128 fabsd128( _Decimal128 arg );	(6)	(since C23)
Defined in header `<tgmath.h>`
#define fabs( arith )	(7)	(since C99)

1-6) Computes the absolute value of a floating point value arg.

The functions with decimal floating point parameters are declared if and only if the implementation predefines __STDC_IEC_60559_DFP__ (i.e. the implementation supports decimal floating point numbers).

(since C23)

7) Type-generic macro: If the argument has type _Decimal128, _Decimal64, _Decimal32,(since C23)long double, double, or float, fabsd128, fabsd64, fabsd32,(since C23)fabsl, fabs, or fabsf is called, respectively. Otherwise, if the argument has integer type, fabs is called. Otherwise, if the argument is complex, then the macro invokes the corresponding complex function (cabsf, cabs, cabsl). Otherwise, the behavior is undefined.

Parameters

arg	-	floating point value
arith	-	floating point or integer value

Return value

If successful, returns the absolute value of arg (\(\small |arg| \)|arg|). The value returned is exact and does not depend on any rounding modes.

Error handling

This function is not subject to any of the error conditions specified in math_errhandling.

If the implementation supports IEEE floating-point arithmetic (IEC 60559),

If the argument is ±0, +0 is returned
If the argument is ±∞, +∞ is returned
If the argument is NaN, NaN is returned

Example

#include <math.h>
#include <stdio.h>
 
#define PI 3.14159
 
// This numerical integration assumes all area is positive.
double integrate(double f(double),
                 double a, double b, // assume a < b
                 unsigned steps) // assume steps > 0
{
    const double dx = (b - a) / steps;
    double sum = 0.0;
    for (double x = a; x < b; x += dx)
        sum += fabs(f(x));
    return dx * sum;
}
 
int main(void)
{
    printf("fabs(+3) = %f\n", fabs(+3.0));
    printf("fabs(-3) = %f\n", fabs(-3.0));
    // special values
    printf("fabs(-0) = %f\n", fabs(-0.0));
    printf("fabs(-Inf) = %f\n", fabs(-INFINITY));
 
    printf("Area under sin(x) in [-PI, PI] = %f\n", integrate(sin, -PI, PI, 5101));
}

Output:

fabs(+3) = 3.000000
fabs(-3) = 3.000000
fabs(-0) = 0.000000
fabs(-Inf) = inf
Area under sin(x) in [-PI, PI] = 4.000000

References

C23 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2023):

7.12.7.2 The fabs functions (p: TBD)
7.25 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: TBD)
F.10.4.2 The fabs functions (p: TBD)

C17 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2018):

7.12.7.2 The fabs functions (p: 181)
7.25 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: 272-273)
F.10.4.2 The fabs functions (p: 382)

C11 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:2011):

7.12.7.2 The fabs functions (p: 248)
7.25 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: 373-375)
F.10.4.2 The fabs functions (p: 524)

C99 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1999):

7.12.7.2 The fabs functions (p: 228-229)
7.22 Type-generic math <tgmath.h> (p: 335-337)
F.9.4.2 The fabs functions (p: 460)

C89/C90 standard (ISO/IEC 9899:1990):

4.5.6.2 The fabs function