A float is a numeric data type used to represent fractional numbers with decimal points. Floats are stored using binary floating-point formats such as IEEE 754, which provide wide ranges but can introduce precision errors. Floats are used for scientific calculations, graphics, measurements, and any scenario requiring non-integer values.
Why it matters
Floating-point precision issues can lead to subtle bugs, especially in financial systems or calculations requiring exact accuracy. Understanding floats helps developers avoid unexpected rounding, comparison problems, and cumulative errors.
Examples
Values like 3.14 or −0.5 are floats. A common issue is that 0.1 + 0.2 does not equal exactly 0.3 due to binary representation. Lessons like Common Data Types introduce floating-point basics.