extra_float_digits — PostgreSQL configuration parameter

This parameter adjusts the number of digits used for textual output of floating-point values, including float4, float8, and geometric data types.

At a glance

What it does

This parameter adjusts the number of digits used for textual output of floating-point values, including float4, float8, and geometric data types.

If the value is 1 (the default) or above, float values are output in shortest-precise format; see datatype_float. The actual number of digits generated depends only on the value being output, not on the value of this parameter. At most 17 digits are required for float8 values, and 9 for float4 values. This format is both fast and precise, preserving the original binary float value exactly when correctly read. For historical compatibility, values up to 3 are permitted.

(Description quoted from the official PostgreSQL documentation.)

How to apply a change

Can be set per session with SET, per role/database with ALTER ROLE/DATABASE ... SET, or globally in postgresql.conf.

Inspect the current value and source with SHOW extra_float_digits; or SELECT name, setting, unit, context, source FROM pg_settings WHERE name = 'extra_float_digits';.

Tuning guidance

This sets a session default (locale, formatting, search path or transaction behaviour) rather than a performance knob. Set it per role or database with ALTER ROLE/DATABASE ... SET so the right default follows the right workload, and prefer setting it explicitly in the application for behaviour the query results depend on.

Reference

PostgreSQL documentation — extra_float_digits.