Bignum

Bignum refers to arbitrary-precision arithmetic, a system that allows for computations with numbers of virtually unlimited size. Unlike fixed-precision data types found in most programming languages, such as integers that are limited by the number of bits available (e.g., 32-bit or 64-bit), bignum libraries can handle numbers that exceed these standard limits. This is achieved through software implementations that represent large numbers, often using arrays of smaller integers to store their digits.

The primary use case for bignum is in applications where standard integer types are insufficient. This includes cryptography, where operations like modular exponentiation involve very large prime numbers, and scientific computing, where high precision is required for complex simulations or calculations. Financial applications also sometimes benefit from bignum to avoid rounding errors with large monetary values.

Implementing bignum arithmetic involves developing algorithms for basic operations like addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division that work with these multi-part number representations. These algorithms are typically more computationally intensive than their fixed-precision counterparts due to the increased complexity of manipulating larger numbers. Many programming languages provide built-in support or readily available libraries for bignum operations, making them accessible to developers.