get ordinal number with code examples

Ordinal numbers are grammar tools that indicate the position of a number within an ordered sequence. For instance, in a sequence like 1, 2, 3, the ordinal numbers would be 1st, 2nd, 3rd. Ordinal numbers are used to denote the order of items in a list, ranking in a contest, or even the day of the month.

In coding, it is essential to be able to get the ordinal number of a given number for some functionalities. For example, if you are building a top-10 list of an event on your website, you need to show the ordinal number for each participant, which will be displayed as 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and so on.

In this article, we will discuss how to get an ordinal number by converting a given integer into an ordinal number string. We will discuss different approaches to achieve this, including:

• Using if-else or switch statements
• Using dictionaries
• Using libraries or built-in functions

Let's jump into coding!

Using If-else or switch statements

One of the simplest ways to get an ordinal number is to use if-else or switch statements. Here's how to do it in Python:

def get_ordinal(n):
    if n % 100 in [11,12,13]:
        return str(n) + 'th'
    else:
        last_digit = n % 10
        if last_digit == 1:
            return str(n) + 'st'
        elif last_digit == 2:
            return str(n) + 'nd'
        elif last_digit == 3:
            return str(n) + 'rd'
        else:
            return str(n) + 'th'

In this code, we are checking whether the last two digits of the number are 11, 12, or 13. These numbers are exceptions to the rule, and their ordinal form will always end with 'th'. For other numbers, we check the last digit and use the corresponding suffix.

Here's how to do it with switch statements in JavaScript:

function getOrdinal(n) {
  switch (true) {
    case n % 100 >= 11 && n % 100 <= 13:
      return n + "th";
    case n % 10 === 1:
      return n + "st";
    case n % 10 === 2:
      return n + "nd";
    case n % 10 === 3:
      return n + "rd";
    default:
      return n + "th";
  }
}

In this code, we are using switch statements to check the value of n in different cases. We first check whether the number falls between 11 and 13, before checking the last digit to add the appropriate suffix.

Using Dictionaries

Another approach we can use is to create a dictionary containing key-value pairs of the number and its corresponding ordinal form. Here's how to do it in Python:

def get_ordinal(n):
    suffix = {1: 'st', 2: 'nd', 3: 'rd'}
    return str(n) + suffix.get(n % 10 if n % 100 not in [11,12,13] else 0, 'th')

In this code, we've created a dictionary named 'suffix' that contains the values for ordinal numbers ending in 1, 2, and 3. We are then using the '.get()' function to retrieve the value of the key in the suffix dictionary that matches the last digit of the input number.

We've also added a conditional statement to account for the exceptions in the rule, which include numbers ending in 11, 12, and 13.

Using Libraries or Built-in Functions

Most programming languages have built-in libraries or functions that can be used to get ordinal numbers. Here are some examples:

Example 1: In Python, the inflect library can be used to get the ordinal number. Here's how:

import inflect
p = inflect.engine()
print(p.ordinal(12))

Output: '12th'

Example 2: In Java, the java.text library contains a 'getOrdinal()' function that can be used to get the ordinal number. Here's how:

import java.text.*;
DecimalFormat formatter = new DecimalFormat("#,###");
System.out.println(formatter.format(12) + getOrdinalSuffix(12));

Output: '12th'

Example 3: In JavaScript, we can use the Intl library to format the number in its ordinal form. Here's how:

console.log(new Intl.PluralRules('en', {type: 'ordinal'}).select(12) + ' ' + 12);

Output: '12th'

Conclusion

In this article, we've discussed the different approaches to getting an ordinal number in coding. We've explored using if-else or switch statements, dictionaries, and libraries or built-in functions.

Using any of these approaches, you should be able to get the ordinal number of any given integer with ease. The method you choose should depend on the requirements of your project and the programming language you are using.

Happy coding!

here are some additional information about the previous topics we have covered:

1. Variables: Variables are used to store data in memory and assign a name to it, which can be accessed and used throughout the program. Besides its name, a variable is also assigned a data type, which determines the type of data that can be stored in it. Some common data types include integers, strings, floats, and booleans.

2. Control Structures: Control structures are programming constructs used to control the flow of a program. They include conditional statements (if-else statements) that allow you to execute certain code if a particular condition is met, as well as loops (for loops and while loops) that allow you to execute a block of code repeatedly until a condition is no longer true.

3. Functions: Functions are self-contained blocks of code that perform a specific task. They can optionally take input arguments and return a value. Functions make your code reusable and easier to understand, as code can be broken down into smaller, more manageable parts.

4. Arrays: An array is a data structure that stores a collection of elements, each identified by an index or a key. Arrays can be used to store multiple values of the same type and are often used to store collections of data. Most programming languages also provide built-in functions that allow you to manipulate arrays, such as sorting, filtering, and searching.

5. Classes and Objects: Classes and objects are concepts of object-oriented programming (OOP). A class is a blueprint for creating an object, which is an instance of the class. Classes define the properties and methods of an object, while objects store data and have behavior. OOP allows for better organization of code, as well as encapsulation of properties and methods that are specific to a particular object.

6. Exception Handling: Exception handling is a mechanism used to handle errors or exceptions that may occur during the execution of a program. In programming, errors are inevitable, but with proper exception handling techniques, unexpected errors can be caught and handled in a way that prevents the program from crashing. Common exception handling techniques include try-catch blocks, which attempt to execute code and catch any errors that may occur, and throwing exceptions, which allow you to create custom exception types.

I hope this additional information has been helpful!

Popular questions

Sure, here are some questions and answers related to "get ordinal number with code examples":

1. What are some different approaches to getting an ordinal number in programming?

Answer: There are multiple approaches to getting ordinal numbers in programming, including using if-else or switch statements, dictionaries, and libraries or built-in functions. Each approach has its own advantages and may be more appropriate depending on the specific requirements of the program.

2. What is the purpose of an ordinal number in programming?

Answer: Ordinal numbers in programming are used to indicate the position of a number within a sequence. They are often used in applications where data is presented in a ranked or ordered format, such as in sports rankings or academic grades.

3. How can you get the ordinal number of a given number using a dictionary in Python?

Answer: In Python, you can use a dictionary to get the ordinal number of a given number by creating a dictionary that maps the last digit of each number to its corresponding ordinal suffix. For example, you can create a dictionary named "suffix" and then use the dictionary's get() method to retrieve the appropriate suffix based on the last digit of the input number.

4. What is the significance of the exceptions in getting ordinal numbers in programming?

Answer: Some numbers have exceptions to the rule for getting their ordinal numbers. For instance, the numbers "11", "12", and "13" don't follow the regular rule as they should end in "th" instead of "st", "nd", or "rd". For this reason, most solutions to getting ordinal numbers in programming include conditional statements that account for these exceptions.

5. What is the benefit of using libraries or built-in functions to get ordinal numbers in programming?

Answer: Using libraries or built-in functions to get ordinal numbers can be beneficial because it saves time and decreases the amount of code needed to perform the function. Libraries and built-in functions have already been tested and optimized, making them more reliable and efficient, especially when dealing with large amounts of data that would otherwise require more complex and time-consuming code to handle.

Tag

Ordinalization