Floating-point
In
programming, a floating-point is a variable type that is used to
store floating-point number values. A floating-point number is one where the
position of the decimal point can "float" rather than being in a fixed
position within a number. For example, a floating-point number could have
the decimal be at any position, as in the numbers 1.23, 87.425, 9039454.2.
With a fixed-point number that allows five digits and two decimal places
could only have the decimal point in one position as in the numbers 121.34,
10.77, and 2.25. Different programming languages or systems may have
different size limits or ways of defining floating-point numbers.
Also see: Float, Floating-point notation, FPU, Programming definitions, Whole number