Hamming Distance Calculation in JavaScript

Introduction

In this lab, we will explore the concept of Hamming Distance and how it is calculated in JavaScript. Through hands-on exercises and coding challenges, you will learn how to use the XOR operator and string manipulation methods to determine the bit difference between two numbers. By the end of this lab, you will have a solid understanding of the Hamming Distance algorithm and be able to implement it in your own JavaScript programs.

Skills Graph

Hamming Distance Calculation

To calculate the Hamming distance between two values, follow these steps:

1. Open the Terminal/SSH and type node to start practicing coding.
2. Use the XOR operator (^) to find the bit difference between the two numbers.
3. Convert the result to a binary string using Number.prototype.toString().
4. Count the number of 1s in the string using String.prototype.match().
5. Return the count.

Here's the code for the hammingDistance function:

const hammingDistance = (num1, num2) =>
  ((num1 ^ num2).toString(2).match(/1/g) || "").length;

You can test the function by running hammingDistance(2, 3); // 1.

Summary

Congratulations! You have completed the Hamming Distance lab. You can practice more labs in LabEx to improve your skills.