Small Numbers

The small numbers extension adds float32, int16, and int8 types to OxCaml. Currently, only float32 (single-precision IEEE float) is implemented.

Float32

When small numbers are enabled, the following float32 types are available:

float32
float32#
float32 array
float32# array

Literals use the s suffix:

1.0s  : float32
#1.0s : float32#

Pattern matching on float32s is not supported.

Operations

Operations on 32-bit floats are available via the Stdlib_stable.Float32 and Stdlib_stable.Float32_u libraries, which provide Base-like APIs.

Representation

The boxed float32 type is encoded as a custom block with similar semantics to int32. Similarly, float32 array is a typical OxCaml array containing boxed elements.

The float32# type is unboxed:

Function arguments and returns of type float32# are passed using floating-point registers.
Record fields of type float32# are not boxed, but each take up one word of space. Using float32 records requires the mixed blocks extension, which is also enabled by default.
Arrays of type float32# array contain tightly packed unboxed float32 elements. The array itself is a custom block with similar semantics to int32# array.

Like floats, compiler optimizations allow boxed float32s to remain unboxed while being manipulated within the scope of a function.

C ABI

Both boxed and unboxed float32s may be passed to C stubs. The OxCaml runtime provides helper functions for working with float32s.

external float32_stub : (float32[@unboxed]) -> (float32[@unboxed]) =
  "boxed_float32_stub" "unboxed_float32_stub"

external float32_hash_stub : float32# -> float32# =
  "boxed_float32_stub" "unboxed_float32_stub"

(* ... *)

#include <caml/float32.h>

float unboxed_float32_stub(float v) {
  return v;
}

value boxed_float32_stub(value v) {
  return caml_copy_float32(unboxed_float32_stub(Float32_val(v)));
}

Int8 / Int16