Understanding the Differences Between Double, Float, Decimal, and Number Datatypes in Programming

I once faced challenges distinguishing between double, float, and decimal data types as they all seemed similar to me. In order to gain a better understanding, I delved into this topic, and the outcome is presented in this article.

Data types play a crucial role in programming languages, determining how variables store and represent values. In the realm of numeric data, developers often encounter various datatypes such as double, float, decimal, and number. While these datatypes may seem interchangeable at first glance, they serve distinct purposes and come with inherent differences. In this article, we will explore the dissimilarities between double, float, decimal, and number datatypes, shedding light on when and where to use each.

1. Double Datatype:

• Precision: The double datatype is a 64-bit floating-point type in most programming languages. It provides higher precision compared to float, making it suitable for applications where precision is critical.
• Range: Doubles have a wider range of values they can represent, both in terms of magnitude and precision.
• Usage: Double is commonly used in scientific computations, financial applications, and situations where a high degree of…