# float (C# Reference)

The float keyword signifies a simple type that stores 32-bit floating-point values. The following table shows the precision and approximate range for the float type.

Type Approximate range Precision .NET type
float ±1.5 x 10−45 to ±3.4 x 1038 ~6-9 digits System.Single

## Literals

By default, a real numeric literal on the right side of the assignment operator is treated as double. Therefore, to initialize a float variable, use the suffix f or F, as in the following example:

float x = 3.5F;


If you do not use the suffix in the previous declaration, you will get a compilation error because you are trying to store a double value into a float variable.

## Conversions

You can mix numeric integral types and floating-point types in an expression. In this case, the integral types are converted to floating-point types. The evaluation of the expression is performed according to the following rules:

• If one of the floating-point types is double, the expression evaluates to double, or to bool in relational comparisons or comparisons for equality.

• If there is no double type in the expression, the expression evaluates to float, or to bool in relational comparisons or comparisons for equality.

A floating-point expression can contain the following sets of values:

• Positive and negative zero

• Positive and negative infinity

• Not-a-Number value (NaN)

• The finite set of nonzero values

For more information about these values, see IEEE Standard for Binary Floating-Point Arithmetic, available on the IEEE website.

## Example

In the following example, an int, a short, and a float are included in a mathematical expression giving a float result. (Remember that float is an alias for the System.Single type.) Notice that there is no double in the expression.

class FloatTest
{
static void Main()
{
int x = 3;
float y = 4.5f;
short z = 5;
var result = x * y / z;
Console.WriteLine("The result is {0}", result);
Type type = result.GetType();
Console.WriteLine("result is of type {0}", type.ToString());
}
}
/* Output:
The result is 2.7
result is of type System.Single //'float' is alias for 'Single'
*/


## C# language specification

For more information, see the C# Language Specification. The language specification is the definitive source for C# syntax and usage.