str2float

str2float(num: str) → float

Converts a number represented as a string to a float. Can include suffixes (such as ‘u’ for micro, ‘k’ for kilo, etc.).

Parameters

num (str) – A string representing a number, optionally with a suffix.

Returns

The string converted back to its floating point representation.

Return type

float

Raises

ValueError – If the argument is malformed or the suffix is not recognized.

Examples

>>> str2float('14.5c')
0.145

Values without suffixes get converted to floats normally.

>>> str2float('2.53')
2.53

If an unrecognized suffix is present, a ValueError is raised.

>>> str2float('17.3o')
ValueError: Suffix 'o' in '17.3o' not recognized.
([-+]?[0-9]+[.]?[0-9]*((?:[eE][-+]?[0-9]+)|[a-zA-Z])?)

Some floats are represented in exponential notation instead of suffixes, and we can handle those, too:

>>> str2float('15.2e-6')
1.52e-7

>>> str2float('0.4E6')
400000.0