A number may refer to any of the following:

  1. Sometimes abbreviated as num, a number is any character that’s 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, or 0. Any negative number is any earlier characters beginning with a hyphen; for example, “-12” is a negative number. Numbers have many relationships with computers. Examples include measuring the clock speed of a CPU or the binary numbers that send the CPU instructions.

How to type numbers

On the computer keyboard, you can use the numbers on the number keys row at the top of the keyboard if you’re typing letters and numbers. If you need help determining what finger to use for each letter, see the link below. If you’re only typing numbers or doing a calculation and it’s available, use the numeric keypad.

A number with a minus (hyphen) in front of it is known as a negative number and not a minus number.

  • Where should fingers be placed on the keyboard?

How to perform arithmetic with numbers?

With a computer, the user can perform arithmetic using a calculator, programming language, or spreadsheet.

Number pages

The following links are the number pages on Computer Hope that contain further information about each number.

  • Zero (0)
  • One (1)
  • Two (2)
  • Three (3)
  • Four (4)
  • Five (5)
  • Six (6)
  • Seven (7)
  • Eight (8)
  • Nine (9)
  • Ten (10)

  1. The term number also refers to an ordered list or number list. See our numbering definition for information about creating this type of list.

  2. Number is cell format available in Microsoft Excel.

  3. A number is an abbreviation often used for “phone number.”

  • How to format a Microsoft Excel spreadsheet.

Average, Cardinal number, Computer abbreviations, Count, Floating-point, Googolplex, Integer, Job number, Letter, Measurements, Negative Integer, No, Number format, Numbering, Number list, Number lock, Numeric, Prime number, Real number, Scientific notation, Serial number, Whole numbers

  • Full list of computer company phone numbers.
  • Phone number area codes.