Java BigInteger signum() method

The signum() method of Java BigInteger class is used to check whether a BigInteger value is positive, negative or zero. This method returns one of the following values depending on the following conditions :

This method returns 1 when this BigInteger is positive.
This method returns 0 when this BigInteger is zero.
This method returns -1 when this BigInteger is negative.

Syntax:

Parameter:

Returns:

The method returns 1, 0 or -1 as the value of this BigInteger when they are positive, zero or negative respectively.

Exception:

Example 1

import java.math.BigInteger;
public class BigIntegerSignumExample1 {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		//create a BigInteger objects 
		BigInteger big1;
		int result;
		// initialize BigInteger object
		big1=new BigInteger("10");
		//perform signum operation on big1 
		result=big1.signum();
		String str="For "+big1+", Signum function returns "+result;
		System.out.println(str);
	}
}

Test it Now

Output:

For 10, Signum function returns 1

Example 2

import java.math.BigInteger;
public class BigIntegerSignumExample2 {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		//create a BigInteger objects 
		BigInteger big1;
		int result;
		// initialize BigInteger object
		big1=new BigInteger("-10");
		//perform signum operation on big1 
		result=big1.signum();
		String str="For "+big1+", Signum function returns "+result;
		System.out.println(str);
	}
}

Test it Now

Output:

For -10, Signum function returns -1

Example 3

import java.math.BigInteger;
public class BigIntegerSignumExample3 {
	public static void main(String[] args) {
		//create a BigInteger objects 
		BigInteger big1;
		int result;
		// initialize BigInteger object
		big1=new BigInteger("0");
		//perform signum operation on big1 
		result=big1.signum();
		String str="For "+big1+", Signum function returns "+result;
		System.out.println(str);
	}
}

Test it Now

Output: