The **IEEE Standard for Floating-Point Arithmetic** (**IEEE 754**) is a [technical standard](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technical_standard "Technical standard") for [floating-point arithmetic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating-point_arithmetic "Floating-point arithmetic") established in 1985 by the [Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Institute_of_Electrical_and_Electronics_Engineers "Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers") (IEEE). The standard [addressed many problems](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IEEE_754#Design_rationale) found in the diverse floating-point implementations that made them difficult to use reliably and [portably](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_portability "Software portability"). Many hardware [floating-point units](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floating-point_unit "Floating-point unit") use the IEEE 754 standard.