What are the typical uses of double and float data types in C language?

In the C language, double and float are both data types used to represent floating-point numbers, but they have different precision and range.

The float type is a single-precision floating point number, occupying 4 bytes (32 bits), with approximately 7 significant digits and a range of approximately 10^-38 to 10^38. Due to its lower precision, it is suitable for use in scenarios with large memory consumption, such as processing sensor data and image processing.

The double type is a double-precision floating point number, which occupies 8 bytes (64 bits) and has approximately 15 significant digits. It can represent a range of about 10^-308 to 10^308. It has relatively high precision and is suitable for scenarios that require more accurate calculations, such as scientific and financial computations.

When deciding between using float or double, it is important to consider the specific requirements. If high precision is not necessary and memory usage is a concern, float may be the better choice. If high precision is needed and memory usage is not a major factor, double could be the preferred option.