# max

## Category
Arithmetic

## Arity
**Binary** — `a max b`.

```
<number> max <number>
```

## Description
Returns the larger of two numbers. If equal, returns that value. Auto-unwraps `shared` values before comparing.

## How It Works
Compares two `double` values and returns the greater one. Equivalent to `Math.Max(a, b)`. The host re-registers `max` with shared-value unwrapping.

## Usage

### Clamp lower bound
```sqf
_hp = _hp max 0;              // never below 0
_damage = (_incoming - _armor) max 0;  // no negative damage
```

### Simple maximum
```sqf
_best = _scoreA max _scoreB;
_budget = _requested max _minimum;
```

### Full clamp (with min)
```sqf
// Clamp _value between _low and _high
_clamped = (_value max _low) min _high;

// Example: clamp health to [0, 100]
_hp = ((_hp + _heal) max 0) min 100;
```

### Array reduction (find maximum)
```sqf
_findMax = {
    params ["_arr"];
    private _max = _arr select 0;
    { _max = _max max _x } forEach _arr;
    _max
};
_result = [3, 7, 2, 9] call _findMax;  // 9
```

## Thread Safety
ReadOnly — pure computation, no side effects. Safe from any scheduler.

## See Also
- [min](min.md) — smaller of two numbers
- [>](greater-than.md) — greater-than comparison
- [select](select.md) — array element access