Question

Alright, so I got a test program:

public class ParseTest {
    public static void main(String[] args){
        String s = "-0.000051";
        System.out.println(s + " != " + Float.parseFloat(s));
    }
}

and it’s not out putting the same number on both sides. This is the output:

-0.000051 != -5.1E-5

So, why isn’t it outputting the same number on both sides?

Answer 1

It is the same number just different scientific representation,

For example:

100 = 1E2 

and

0.1 = 1E-1

---

How to get same representation ?

If you want the same representation then use BigDecimal

System.out.println(s + " != " + new BigDecimal(s));

---

Who is converting it to this format ?

when you convert primitive to String by for example

float f = 100.123;
String result = "" + f; 

It calls the Float.valueOf(f) which inturns calls the Float.toString() which inturn calls the new FloatingDecimal(f).toJavaFormatString(); this is where this stuff is encapsulated