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Because floating-point numbers can represent fractions, it is often mistakenly assumed that they can represent any simple fraction exactly. In fact, floating-point numbers are subject to precision limitations just as integers are, and binary floating-point numbers cannot represent all decimal fractions exactly, even if they can be represented in a small number of decimal digits.

In addition, because floating-point numbers can represent large values, it is often mistakenly assumed that they can represent all digits of those values. To gain a large dynamic range, floating-point numbers maintain a fixed number of bits of precision and an exponent. Incrementing a large floating-point value may not change that value within the available precision.

Hence, floating-point variables should not be used as loop counters.

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, a floating-point variable is used as a loop counter. The decimal number 0.1 is a repeating fraction in binary and cannot be exactly represented as a binary floating-point number.

for (float x = 0.1f; x <= 1.0f; x += 0.1f) {
  // ... 
}

This loop is executed only nine times. (If the value of x is printed inside the loop, the following values appear: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.70000005, 0.8000001, 0.9000001.)

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, the loop counter is an integer from which the floating-point value is derived.

for (int count = 1; count <= 10; count += 1) {
  float x = count/10.0f;
  // ...
}

Noncompliant Code Example

In this noncompliant code example, a floating-point loop counter is incremented by an amount that is too small to change its value given its precision.

for (float x = 100000001.0f; x <= 100000010.0f; x += 1.0f) {
  /* ... */
}

This produces an infinite loop.

Compliant Solution

In this compliant solution, the loop counter is an integer from which the floating-point value is derived. Additionally, a double is used instead of a float to gain enough precision.

for (int count = 1; count <= 10; count += 1) {
  double x = 100000000.0 + count;
  /* ... */
}

Risk Assessment

Using floating-point loop counters can lead to unexpected behavior.

Automated Detection

TODO

Related Vulnerabilities

Search for vulnerabilities resulting from the violation of this rule on the CERT website.

Other Languages

This rule appears in the C Secure Coding Standard as FLP30-C. Do not use floating point variables as loop counters.

References

\[[JLS 05|AA. Java References#JLS 05]\] [Section 4.2.3, Floating-Point Types, Formats, and Values|http://java.sun.com/docs/books/jls/third_edition/html/typesValues.html#4.2.3]
\[[Bloch 05|AA. Java References#Bloch 05]\] Puzzle 34: Down for the Count

FLP02-J. Do not attempt comparisons with NaN      05. Floating Point (FLP)      FLP31-J. Convert integers to floating point for floating point operations