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---
title: '704. Binary Search'
description: Given an array of integers nums which is sorted in ascending order, and an integer target, write a function to search target in nums. If target exists, then return its index. Otherwise, return -1
sidebar:
2026-08-20 13:47:49 -04:00
label: 'Binary Search'
2026-08-20 13:37:21 -04:00
badge: 'Easy'
---
<Badge variant="accent">Binary Search</Badge>
::::warning
You must write an algorithm with O(log n) runtime complexity.
::::
### Example 1:
- Input: `nums = [-1,0,3,5,9,12], target = 9`
- Output: `4`
- Explanation: `9` exists in `nums` and its index is `4`
### Example 2:
- Input: `nums = [-1,0,3,5,9,12], target = 2`
- Output: `-1`
- Explanation: `2` does not exist in `nums` so return `-1`
### Constraints:
- `1 <= nums.length <= 10^4`
- `-10^4 < nums[i], target < 10^4`
- All the integers in `nums` are unique.
- `nums` is sorted in ascending order.
## Solution
```js
/**
* @param {number[]} nums
* @param {number} target
* @return {number}
*/
var search = function(nums, target) {
let left = 0;
let right = nums.length - 1;
while(left <= right) {
const mid = left + Math.floor((right - left) / 2);
if (nums[mid] === target) {
return mid;
} else if(nums[mid] < target){
left = mid + 1;
} else if (nums[mid] > target) {
right = mid - 1;
}
}
return -1;
};
```