This document describes decimal encodings (concrete representations)
which are suitable for supporting the general purpose
decimal arithmetic defined in the Decimal
Arithmetic Specification.[1]
Inclusions
This specification defines the following:
The formats and layouts of 32-bit, 64-bit, and 128-bit decimal numbers
(decimal32, decimal64, and decimal128
respectively)
The range of numerical values which can be represented by the formats
The range of exponents which can be represented by the formats.
Exclusions
This specification does not define the following:
The semantics of arithmetic and other operations on encoded numbers
Exceptions and other consequences of operations on encoded numbers
Encodings of context information
Encodings with 96 bits or wider than 128 bits; however, any
multiple of 32 bits can be used for an IEEE 754 interchange format
that follows the same encodings and rules described here (each
32 bits after the first adds 2 bits to the exponent and nine decimal
digits to the coefficient).