A Number field stores numerical data. Picking the right number type matters: it controls how much storage the field uses, what range of values it can hold, and whether decimal precision is exact or approximate.Documentation Index
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://archie.com/docs/llms.txt
Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
Number types
| Type | Stores | Range / precision | Use it for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small Integer (SMALLINT) | Whole numbers | -32,768 to 32,767 | Small counters, ages, ratings on a fixed scale. |
| Integer (INT) | Whole numbers | About -2.1 billion to 2.1 billion | Most counts, quantities, scores. The default choice. |
| Big Integer (BIGINT) | Whole numbers | About -9.2 quintillion to 9.2 quintillion | High-traffic counters, very large IDs, file sizes in bytes. |
| Float (REAL) | Decimal numbers | ~6 decimal digits of precision | Weights, percentages, scientific measurements where some imprecision is fine. |
| Numeric / Decimal (NUMERIC) | Exact decimal numbers | Configurable precision and scale | Money, anything that must round predictably. |
| Double Precision | Decimal numbers | ~15 decimal digits of precision | Coordinates, scientific calculations needing more precision than Float. |
Configuration options
| Option | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | The system identifier used in the GraphQL and REST APIs (for example price, quantity, score). |
| Description | An optional internal note explaining the field’s purpose. |
| Number Type | One of the six types listed above. |
| Default Value | A value automatically assigned if no number is provided (for example 0 for a counter). |
| Mandatory | If on, the record cannot be saved without a number. |
| Unique | If on, no two rows can share the same number. Useful for serial numbers or rankings. |
How it appears in the API
Integer types are exposed asInt in GraphQL. Float, Double Precision, and Numeric are exposed as Float (or a custom Decimal scalar where exactness matters). See the GraphQL API Explorer for the generated schema.
Permissions
Number fields obey the per-role read and write rules configured in Role-Based Access.FAQ
Which type should I use for money?
Which type should I use for money?
Numeric / Decimal. It stores exact values with a configurable precision and scale. Floats and doubles are inexact and will produce rounding errors over time.
Integer vs. Big Integer — does it matter?
Integer vs. Big Integer — does it matter?
For most app data, Integer is more than enough (about ±2.1 billion). Reach for Big Integer only when you genuinely expect very large counts or are storing identifiers that exceed Integer’s range.
What's the difference between Float and Double Precision?
What's the difference between Float and Double Precision?
Both are approximate. Float has about 6 digits of precision; Double Precision has about 15. Use Double when you need more precision; Float when storage size matters and 6 digits is enough.
Can I switch a number type later?
Can I switch a number type later?
Yes. Existing values are auto-converted where the new type can hold them. Narrowing the type — for example, from Integer to Small Integer — will fail if any value is out of range.