The use of two computer words to represent each number. This technique allows the use of twice as many digits as are normally available and is used when extra precision is needed in calculations.
An IEEE floating-point format in which a value occupies 64 bits: 1 bit for the sign, 11 bits for the exponent, and 52 bits for the fraction. See also single-precision, quad-precision.
Refers to a level of coordinate accuracy based on the possible number of significant digits that can be stored for each coordinate. Whereas single-precision coverages can store up to 7 significant digits for each coordinate and thus retain a precision of 1 metre in an extent of 1,000,000 metres, double precision coverages can store up to 15 significant digits per coordinate (typically 13-14 significant digits) and therefore retain the accuracy of much less than 1 metre at a global extent.
(1) (adj.) Characteristic of using two native words of memory to store a numeric datum.(2) (adj.) In the JavaTM language specification, characteristic of a floating-point number that holds 64 bits of data. See also single-precision.
Pertaining to the use of two computer words to represent a number in accordance with the required precision. , ANSI.
An internal representation of numbers that can have fractional parts. Double-precision numbers keep track of more digits than do single-precision numbers, but operations on them are sometimes more expensive. This is the way awk stores numeric values. It is the C type double.