convertBinaryToDecimal()

Step 1: Function declaration

The first step would be to define our function. In Javascript, we could accomplish this by using the function keyword, followed by the name we want to give the function, in this case, convertBinaryToDecimal. As an argument, this function will receive a binary number which in this case is a number of base 2, that we want to convert to a decimal (base 10).

function convertBinaryToDecimal(binaryNumber) {
    // function body will be implemented in the next steps.
}

Step 2: Conversion of string input to an array

Binary numbers have to be read from right to left when converted to a decimal number. It would be beneficial to have the binaryNumber as an array of single digits that we can read from right to left. Before turning the input to an array, we ensure it is in string format.

function convertBinaryToDecimal(binaryNumber) {
    binaryNumber = String(binaryNumber);
    let binaryArray = binaryNumber.split("");
}

Step 3: Reversing the array

As said in the earlier step, the conversion process of binary number to decimal starts from rightmost digit (least significant bit) to left. To help with this, we then need to reverse the array so we can process the digits in the correct order.

function convertBinaryToDecimal(binaryNumber) {
    binaryNumber = String(binaryNumber);
    let binaryArray = binaryNumber.split("");
    binaryArray = binaryArray.reverse();
}

Step 4: Calculating the decimal equivalent

Each digit in a binary string represents 2 to the power of its position from the rightmost side (zero-based), as long as the digit is '1'. A digit of '0' contributes no value, irrespective of its position. To calculate the decimal equivalent, we loop through the elements of the binary array, check if it is '1' or not. If yes, we add to our previous value the result of 2 raised to the power of its position otherwise we add nothing.

function convertBinaryToDecimal(binaryNumber) {
    binaryNumber = String(binaryNumber);
    let binaryArray = binaryNumber.split("");
    binaryArray = binaryArray.reverse();
    let decimal = 0;
    for(let i = 0; i < binaryArray.length; i++) {
        if(binaryArray[i] == 1) {
            decimal += Math.pow(2, i);
        }
    }
}

Step 5: Returning the result

Now our function is complete, and we can return the calculated decimal number.

So here's the final version of our convertBinaryToDecimal function:

function convertBinaryToDecimal(binaryNumber) {
    binaryNumber = String(binaryNumber);
    let binaryArray = binaryNumber.split("");
    binaryArray = binaryArray.reverse();
    let decimal = 0;
    for(let i = 0; i < binaryArray.length; i++) {
        if(binaryArray[i] == 1) {
            decimal += Math.pow(2, i);
        }
    }
    return decimal;
}

Conclusion

Digital systems and today's computers use binary for computation and data representation. Converting binary to its decimal or any other base equivalent is a fundamental process in understanding and designing circuits and applications, and understanding this conversion is an essential skill. This function demonstrates how to program a binary to decimal conversion, helping to demystify and understand the conversion process.