:int and :float

why should i use a float variable instead of an int variable?

 

Simply put, integers are whole numbers (1, 2, 3, 4 etc). Floats aren't required to be whole numbers (1.1, 1.2, 1.3, etc), but they can be treated so.

Floats take more work to compute, but it's probably not something anybody would ever notice. If you know your number is always going to be whole, use an integer. If your number isn't always going to be whole, use a float.

 

Sometimes the decision is made for you: even if you think the variable will only hold whole numbers, if the only thing you ever do with it is pass it into some functions that all require floats (Physics functions for example), then it might be simpler to just store it in your class as a float as well.

 

Quick thoughts on comparison

int

• Can only store whole numbers
• Has perfect precision across entire range
• Limited range -2,147,483,648 to 2,147,483,647
• Perfect for counts, indexes and the like.

float

• Can store decimals
• Precision is related to magnitude. 7 digits only.
• Large, but still limited, range -3.4 × 10^38 to +3.4 × 10^38
• Almost all unity functions accept floats

That said there are many other data types out there. decimal, double, long, half... They all have slightly different advantages and disadvantages.