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DOC: explain read_csv/read_table float_precision behavior#64335

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LarytheLord wants to merge 1 commit intopandas-dev:mainfrom
LarytheLord:docs/read-csv-float-precision-64094
Open

DOC: explain read_csv/read_table float_precision behavior#64335
LarytheLord wants to merge 1 commit intopandas-dev:mainfrom
LarytheLord:docs/read-csv-float-precision-64094

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@LarytheLord LarytheLord commented Feb 27, 2026

Problem

float_precision in read_csv / read_table is currently under-explained: users see option names (high, legacy, round_trip) but not the practical behavior/tradeoffs (issue #64094).

What this PR changes

  • clarifies that float_precision controls text-to-float conversion behavior in the C parser
  • documents each option explicitly:
    • None / high: default high-precision converter
    • legacy: original lower-precision converter
    • round_trip: converter focused on round-trip-safe text representation
  • explains “round-trip” in practical terms (minimizes representation changes when reading then writing values)

Scope

  • docs-only change in parser docs shared by read_csv / read_table
  • no parser behavior changes

Closes #64094.

Validation

  • python3 -m compileall pandas/io/parsers/readers.py
  • git diff --check
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