# Numbers

SCPI Basics

- Program Message Terminator
- Short or Long Forms
- White Space
- Combining Commands
- Adding Parameters to a Command
- String Arguments
- Numbers
- Infinity Representation
- Queries
- Endianness of Returned Binary Block Data
- NaN (Not A Number)
- Sequential and Overlapped Commands
- SCPI Tree

Some commands require number arguments. All numbers are expected to be strings of ASCII characters. You can use exponential notation or suffix multipliers to indicate the numeric value. The following numbers are all equal:

28 = 0.28E2 = 280E-1 = 28000m = 0.028K

When a syntax definition specifies that a number is an integer, any fractional part is ignored and truncated. Using "mV" or "V" following the numeric voltage value in some commands will cause an error. Instead, use the convention for the suffix multiplier.

Multipliers
Value | Mnemonic
--- | ---
1E18 | EX
1E15 | PE
1E12 | T
1E9 | G
1E6 | MA
1E3 | K
1E−3 | m
1E−6 | u
1E−9 | n
1E−12 | p
1E−15 | f
1E−18 | a

Measurement Units
Suffix | Referenced Unit
--- | ---
V | Volt
s | Second
W | Watt
BIT | Bits
dB | Decibel
% | Percent
Hz | Hertz