In computing, floating-point describes a numerical representation system in which a string of digits (or bits) represents a real number.
The name "floating-point" refers to the fact that the radix point (decimal point, or, more commonly in computers, binary point) can 'float'; that is, it can be placed anywhere relative to the significant digits of the number. This position is indicated separately in the internal representation, and floating-point representation can thus be thought of as a computer realization of scientific notation.