diff --git a/Doc/library/string.rst b/Doc/library/string.rst index 5542e9b727a..54786d0c2ab 100644 --- a/Doc/library/string.rst +++ b/Doc/library/string.rst @@ -514,6 +514,8 @@ The available presentation types for :class:`float` and | | this rounds the number to ``p`` significant digits and | | | then formats the result in either fixed-point format | | | or in scientific notation, depending on its magnitude. | + | | A precision of ``0`` is treated as equivalent to a | + | | precision of ``1``. | | | | | | The precise rules are as follows: suppose that the | | | result formatted with presentation type ``'e'`` and | @@ -528,16 +530,19 @@ The available presentation types for :class:`float` and | | removed if there are no remaining digits following it, | | | unless the ``'#'`` option is used. | | | | + | | With no precision given, uses a precision of ``6`` | + | | significant digits for :class:`float`. For | + | | :class:`~decimal.Decimal`, the coefficient of the result | + | | is formed from the coefficient digits of the value; | + | | scientific notation is used for values smaller than | + | | ``1e-6`` in absolute value and values where the place | + | | value of the least significant digit is larger than 1, | + | | and fixed-point notation is used otherwise. | + | | | | | Positive and negative infinity, positive and negative | | | zero, and nans, are formatted as ``inf``, ``-inf``, | | | ``0``, ``-0`` and ``nan`` respectively, regardless of | | | the precision. | - | | | - | | A precision of ``0`` is treated as equivalent to a | - | | precision of ``1``. With no precision given, uses a | - | | precision of ``6`` significant digits for | - | | :class:`float`, and shows all coefficient digits | - | | for :class:`~decimal.Decimal`. | +---------+----------------------------------------------------------+ | ``'G'`` | General format. Same as ``'g'`` except switches to | | | ``'E'`` if the number gets too large. The | @@ -550,12 +555,18 @@ The available presentation types for :class:`float` and | ``'%'`` | Percentage. Multiplies the number by 100 and displays | | | in fixed (``'f'``) format, followed by a percent sign. | +---------+----------------------------------------------------------+ - | None | Similar to ``'g'``, except that fixed-point notation, | - | | when used, has at least one digit past the decimal point.| - | | The default precision is as high as needed to represent | - | | the particular value. The overall effect is to match the | - | | output of :func:`str` as altered by the other format | - | | modifiers. | + | None | For :class:`float` this is the same as ``'g'``, except | + | | that when fixed-point notation is used to format the | + | | result, it always includes at least one digit past the | + | | decimal point. The precision used is as large as needed | + | | to represent the given value faithfully. | + | | | + | | For :class:`~decimal.Decimal`, this is the same as | + | | either ``'g'`` or ``'G'`` depending on the value of | + | | ``context.capitals`` for the current decimal context. | + | | | + | | The overall effect is to match the output of :func:`str` | + | | as altered by the other format modifiers. | +---------+----------------------------------------------------------+