template<typename T>
Eigen::NumTraits class

Holds information about the various numeric (i.e. scalar) types allowed by Eigen.

Template parameters
T the numeric type at hand

This class stores enums, typedefs and static methods giving information about a numeric type.

The provided data consists of:

  • A typedef Real, giving the "real part" type of T. If T is already real, then Real is just a typedef to T. If T is std::complex<U> then Real is a typedef to U.
  • A typedef NonInteger, giving the type that should be used for operations producing non-integral values, such as quotients, square roots, etc. If T is a floating-point type, then this typedef just gives T again. Note however that many Eigen functions such as internal::sqrt simply refuse to take integers. Outside of a few cases, Eigen doesn't do automatic type promotion. Thus, this typedef is only intended as a helper for code that needs to explicitly promote types.
  • A typedef Literal giving the type to use for numeric literals such as "2" or "0.5". For instance, for std::complex<U>, Literal is defined as U. Of course, this type must be fully compatible with T. In doubt, just use T here.
  • A typedef Nested giving the type to use to nest a value inside of the expression tree. If you don't know what this means, just use T here.
  • An enum value IsComplex. It is equal to 1 if T is a std::complex type, and to 0 otherwise.
  • An enum value IsInteger. It is equal to 1 if T is an integer type such as int, and to 0 otherwise.
  • Enum values ReadCost, AddCost and MulCost representing a rough estimate of the number of CPU cycles needed to by move / add / mul instructions respectively, assuming the data is already stored in CPU registers. Stay vague here. No need to do architecture-specific stuff. If you don't know what this means, just use Eigen::HugeCost.
  • An enum value IsSigned. It is equal to 1 if T is a signed type and to 0 if T is unsigned.
  • An enum value RequireInitialization. It is equal to 1 if the constructor of the numeric type T must be called, and to 0 if it is safe not to call it. Default is 0 if T is an arithmetic type, and 1 otherwise.
  • An epsilon() function which, unlike std::numeric_limits::epsilon(), it returns a Real instead of a T.
  • A dummy_precision() function returning a weak epsilon value. It is mainly used as a default value by the fuzzy comparison operators.
  • highest() and lowest() functions returning the highest and lowest possible values respectively.
  • digits10() function returning the number of decimal digits that can be represented without change. This is the analogue of std::numeric_limits<T>::digits10 which is used as the default implementation if specialized.