title: Default Scale value of Number column in Oracle
body: <p><a href="https://docs.oracle.com/cd/B28359_01/server.111/b28318/datatype.htm#CNCPT1832" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Oracle Docs</a> mentioned that the default precision value is 38 and scale is 0.</p>
  <blockquote>
  <p>If a precision is not specified, the column stores values as given. If
  no scale is specified, the scale is zero.</p>
  </blockquote>
  <p>But the table mentioned there (Table 26-1) contradicts the statement.</p>
  <pre><code> Input Data   | Specified As  | Stored As  
  
   7,456,123.89 |  NUMBER       | 7456123.89
  </code></pre>
  <p>If the default scale is 0 (number of digits to the right of the decimal point) then how come the above number is stored with 2 decimal digits. i.e. <strong>.89</strong>
  or have I totally misunderstood the default scale concept?</p>