fpclassify - Linux
Overview
The fpclassify command determines the class of a floating-point number, providing insights into its nature and characteristics. It’s particularly useful for identifying special floating-point values such as NaN, infinity, and subnormal numbers.
Syntax
fpclassify [-h] [-v] <floating-point-number>
Options/Flags
- -h, –help: Display help information and exit.
- -v, –version: Display version information and exit.
Examples
Simple Usage:
$ fpclassify 0.0
FP_ZERO
Identifying NaN:
$ fpclassify nan(0)
FP_NAN
Checking Infinity:
$ fpclassify inf
FP_INFINITE
Detecting Subnormal Numbers:
$ fpclassify 1e-308
FP_SUBNORMAL
Common Issues
Incorrect Number Format:
If the provided input is not a valid floating-point number, fpclassify will return FP_INVALID. Ensure that the number is formatted correctly with a decimal point or exponent.
Special Floating-Point Values:
Be aware that NaN and infinity are represented differently based on the floating-point standard (FP_NAN and FP_INFINITE). Double-check the expected values according to the context.
Integration
fpclassify can be combined with other tools for advanced tasks, such as:
- grep: Filter output based on specific floating-point classes.
- awk: Extract and analyze floating-point numbers from large datasets.
- python: Create scripts to automate floating-point classification tasks.