Definition: floating-point

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Source: The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (2003-OCT-10) 

floating-point

   <programming> A number representation consisting of a
   mantissa, M, an exponent, E, and an (assumed) radix (or
   "base") .  The number represented is M*R^E where R is the
   radix - usually ten but sometimes 2.

   Many different representations are used for the mantissa and
   exponent themselves.  The IEEE specify a standard
   representation which is used by many hardware floating-point
   systems.

   See also floating-point accelerator, floating-point unit.

   Normalisation is the process of converting a floating point
   number into canonical form where any number other than zero
   has a mantissa whose first digit is non-zero.

   Opposite: fixed-point.

   (1995-03-21)