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# Heaviside Function

> Evaluate the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function].

<section class="intro">

The [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] is defined as

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:heaviside_function" align="center" raw="H(x) = \begin{cases} 1 & \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ 0 & \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" alt="Heaviside function."> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="H(x) = \begin{cases} 1 &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ 0 &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" data-equation="eq:heaviside_function">
    <img src="https://cdn.rawgit.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/7e0a95722efd9c771b129597380c63dc6715508b/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside/docs/img/equation_heaviside_function.svg" alt="Heaviside function.">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

and is discontinuous at `0`. Depending on the context, the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] may be defined as a continuous function. To define the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] such that the function has rotational symmetry,

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:heaviside_function_half_maximum" align="center" raw="H(x) = \begin{cases} x & \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ \frac{1}{2} & \textrm{if}\ x = 0 \\ 0 & \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" alt="Heaviside function half-maximum."> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="H(x) = \begin{cases} x &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ \frac{1}{2} &amp; \textrm{if}\ x = 0 \\ 0 &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" data-equation="eq:heaviside_function_half_maximum">
    <img src="https://cdn.rawgit.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/7e0a95722efd9c771b129597380c63dc6715508b/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside/docs/img/equation_heaviside_function_half_maximum.svg" alt="Heaviside function half-maximum.">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

To define the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] as a left-continuous function,

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:heaviside_function_left_continuous" align="center" raw="H(x) = \begin{cases} x & \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ 0 & \textrm{if}\ x \leq 0\end{cases}" alt="Heaviside function left-continuous."> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="H(x) = \begin{cases} x &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \gt 0 \\ 0 &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \leq 0\end{cases}" data-equation="eq:heaviside_function_left_continuous">
    <img src="https://cdn.rawgit.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/7e0a95722efd9c771b129597380c63dc6715508b/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside/docs/img/equation_heaviside_function_left_continuous.svg" alt="Heaviside function left-continuous.">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

To define the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] as a right-continuous function,

<!-- <equation class="equation" label="eq:heaviside_function_right_continuous" align="center" raw="H(x) = \begin{cases} x & \textrm{if}\ x \geq 0 \\ 0 & \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" alt="Heaviside function right-continuous."> -->

<div class="equation" align="center" data-raw-text="H(x) = \begin{cases} x &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \geq 0 \\ 0 &amp; \textrm{if}\ x \lt 0\end{cases}" data-equation="eq:heaviside_function_right_continuous">
    <img src="https://cdn.rawgit.com/stdlib-js/stdlib/7e0a95722efd9c771b129597380c63dc6715508b/lib/node_modules/@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside/docs/img/equation_heaviside_function_right_continuous.svg" alt="Heaviside function right-continuous.">
    <br>
</div>

<!-- </equation> -->

</section>

<!-- /.intro -->

<section class="usage">

## Usage

```javascript
var heaviside = require( '@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside' );
```

#### heaviside( x\[, continuity] )

Evaluates the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function].

```javascript
var v = heaviside( 3.14 );
// returns 1.0

v = heaviside( -3.14 );
// returns 0.0

v = heaviside( NaN );
// returns NaN
```

The `continuity` parameter may be one of the following values:

-   `'half-maximum'`: if `x == 0`, the function returns `0.5`.
-   `'left-continuous'`: if `x == 0`, the function returns `0.0`.
-   `'right-continuous'`: if `x == 0`, the function returns `1.0`.

By default, the function is discontinuous at `0`.

```javascript
var v = heaviside( 0.0 );
// returns NaN
```

To define the [Heaviside function][heaviside-function] as a continuous function, set the `continuity` parameter.

```javascript
var v = heaviside( 0.0, 'half-maximum' );
// returns 0.5

v = heaviside( 0.0, 'left-continuous' );
// returns 0.0

v = heaviside( 0.0, 'right-continuous' );
// returns 1.0
```

</section>

<!-- /.usage -->

<section class="examples">

## Examples

<!-- eslint no-undef: "error" -->

```javascript
var linspace = require( '@stdlib/array/linspace' );
var heaviside = require( '@stdlib/math/base/special/heaviside' );

var x = linspace( -10.0, 10.0, 101 );
var i;

for ( i = 0; i < x.length; i++ ) {
    console.log( 'H(%d) = %d', x[ i ], heaviside( x[ i ] ) );
}
```

</section>

<!-- /.examples -->

<section class="links">

[heaviside-function]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heaviside_step_function

</section>

<!-- /.links -->
