# Float

A data type that is a number that can  store numbers with decimal places.

## What is a **float** (or floating point type)?

A **floating point** data type is a number that can 
store numbers with decimal places. The size of the 
number that needs to be represented determines how
much memory must be allocated to store the number.


```JavaScript
 // javscript has a number data type for all floats
let bignumber = 1234567890.12345;
```
```python
# python also allows any number to be stored in a variable
bignumber = 123456789.12345
```
```csharp
// C# and Java have 2 floating point data types
// float and double 
double bigNumber = 123456789.12345;
```

```sql
-- SQL also supports multiple floating point data types
REAL, NUMBER(10,2), DECIMAL(10,2)

-- TSQL
DECLARE @BigNumber NUMBER(15,5)
SET @BigNumber = 123456789.12345
```

Level: Novice · [More General terms at this level](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/subjects/general/novice)

Updated: October 15, 2026

## In other subjects

- [Float in CSS](https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/float)

Source: https://www.ask-codey.com/glossary/floats