{"id":1329,"date":"2017-11-04T10:15:43","date_gmt":"2017-11-04T03:15:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oracletutorial.com\/?page_id=1329"},"modified":"2025-05-29T23:30:04","modified_gmt":"2025-05-30T06:30:04","slug":"oracle-float","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.oracletutorial.com\/oracle-basics\/oracle-float\/","title":{"rendered":"Oracle FLOAT"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Summary<\/strong>: In this tutorial, you’ll learn how to use Oraccle FLOAT<\/code> data type to define float columns for tables.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Introduction to Oracle FLOAT data type #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In Oraccle, the FLOAT<\/code> data type is the subtype of the NUMBER<\/a><\/code> data type. Its main purpose is to facilitate compatibility with ANSI SQL FLOAT<\/code> data types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s the syntax of the FLOAT<\/code> data type:<\/p>\n\n\n

FLOAT(p)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
In this syntax, Oracle allows you to specify the precision for the FLOAT<\/code> data type. It does not let you specify the scale because the Oracle Database interprets the scale from the value. The maximum value of the precision (p<\/code>) is 126 bits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oracle uses binary bits to measure the pricision in floating-point types. To convert binary precision to decimal precision, you use the following formula:<\/p>\n\n\n
P(decimal) = 0.30103 * P(binary)<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
To make it compatible with the SQL ANSI FLOAT<\/code>, Oracle provides a number of aliases as shown in the following table:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
ANSI SQL FLOAT<\/th>Oracle FLOAT<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
FLOAT<\/td>FLOAT(126)<\/td><\/tr>
REAL<\/td>FLOAT(63)<\/td><\/tr>
DOUBLE PRECISION<\/td>FLOAT(126)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
For example, instead of using the FLOAT(63)<\/code> data type, you can use the REAL<\/code> alias.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oracle FLOAT example #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
First, create a new table<\/a> named float_demo<\/code> for the demonstration:<\/p>\n\n\n
CREATE<\/span> TABLE<\/span> float_demo (\n    f1 FLOAT<\/span>(1<\/span>),\n    f2 FLOAT<\/span>(4<\/span>),\n    f3 FLOAT<\/span>(7<\/span>)\n);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
INSERT<\/span> INTO<\/span>\n  float_demo (f1, f2, f3)\nVALUES<\/span>\n  (1<\/span> \/ 3<\/span>, 1<\/span> \/ 3<\/span>, 1<\/span> \/ 3<\/span>);<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
SELECT<\/span>\n  *\nFROM<\/span>\n  float_demo;<\/code><\/span>Code language:<\/span> SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> (<\/span>sql<\/span>)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\n\n\n
\"Oracle<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
In this example, the data type of the column f1<\/code>, f2<\/code> and f3<\/code> is FLOAT(1)<\/code>, FLOAT(4)<\/code>, and FLOAT(7)<\/code>. So the corresponding precision in decimal digits of the column f1<\/code>, f2<\/code>, and f3<\/code> is 1 (1 * 0.30103), 2 (4 * 0.30103), and 3 (7 * 0.30103).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Summary #<\/a><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • The FLOAT<\/code> type is a subtype of the NUMBER<\/code> type.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Oraccle uses bits to represent the precision of the floating number type.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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Third, query data<\/a> from the float_demo<\/code> table:<\/p>\n\n\n
Second, insert a new row<\/a> into the float_demo<\/code> table:<\/p>\n\n\n