Syntax

TO_CHAR( 
numeric_value )

Converts double values of up to 16 digits to strings and provides accuracy up to 15 digits. If you pass a number with more than 15 digits, TO_CHAR rounds the number based on the sixteenth digit and returns the string representation of the number in scientific notation. For example, 1234567890123456 double value converts to '1.23456789012346e+015' string value.
Returns decimal notation for numbers in the ranges (-1e16,-1e-16] and [1e-16, 1e16). TO_CHAR returns scientific notation for numbers outside these ranges. For example, 10842764968208837340 double value converts to '1.08427649682088e+019' string value.

In high precision mode, TO_CHAR converts decimal values of up to 38 digits to strings. If you pass a decimal value with more than 38 digits, TO_CHAR returns scientific notation for numbers greater than 38 digits.
In low precision mode, TO_CHAR treats decimal values as double values.
If you pass a decimal port to the TO_CHAR function and the input value does not have enough digits to match the scale of the decimal port, the TO_CHAR function appends zeros to the value.
For example, if the scale of the decimal port is 5 and the value in a row is 7.6901, the TO_CHAR function treats the input value as 7.69010 and the return value is '7.69010.'

Return Value

Double Conversion Example

TO_CHAR( SALES )

SALES

RETURN VALUE

1010.99

'1010.99'

-15.62567

'-15.62567'

10842764968208837340

'1.08427649682088e+019'
  (rounded based on the 16th digit and returns the value in scientific notation) 

236789034569723

'236789034569723'

0

'0'

33.15

'33.15'

NULL

NULL

Decimal Conversion Example

TO_CHAR( SALES )

SALES

RETURN VALUE

2378964536789761

'2378964536789761'

1234567890123456789012345679

'1234567890123456789012345679'

1.234578945469649345876123456

'1.234578945469649345876123456'

0.999999999999999999999999999

'0.999999999999999999999999999'

12345678901234567890123456799

'12345678901234567890123456799'

23456788992233456678458934567123465239

'23456788992233456678458934567123465239'

423456789012345678901234567991234567899

'4.23456789012346e+038'