---
type: "datatype"
title: "decimal"
datatype: "decimal"
---
# decimal

- [Datatypes](/datatypes)
- [Definitions](/datatypes-definitions#decimal)
- [Examples](/datatypes-examples#decimal)
- [Mappings](/datatypes-mappings#decimal)
- [Profiles](/datatypes-profiles#decimal)

## Primitive Details
- **Definition**: A rational number with implicit precision
- **Comments**: Do not use an IEEE type floating point type, instead use something that works like a true decimal, with inbuilt precision (e.g. Java BigInteger)
- **XML Schema/Base**: `xs:decimal, xs:double`
- **JSON Type**: `number`
- **Regex**: `-?(0|[1-9][0-9]{0,17})(\.[0-9]{1,17})?([eE][+-]?[0-9]{1,9})?`
- **Characteristics**: has-range is-continuous
- **v3 Mapping**: `REAL`
- **v2 Mapping**: `~NM`