Editing Windows Calculator

{{short description|Calculator application included in Microsoft Windows}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2008}}
{{Infobox software
| name = Windows Calculator
| logo = Windows Calculator icon.png
| logo size = x64px
| screenshot = File:Windows 11 Calculator in light mode.png
| screenshot size = 200px
| caption = Calculator in Windows 11
| author = Chris Peters,<br />Mark Cliggett,<br />Marc Taylor,<br />Kraig Brockschmidt<ref>{{Cite web
  | last = Juarez
  | first = Seth
  | date = 2016-02-09
  | url  = https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/shows/seth-juarez/kraig-brockschmidt-creator-of-calc-on-early-days-microsoft
  | title = Kraig Brockschmidt, Creator of Calc, on the Early Days at Microsoft
  | website = Microsoft Learn
  | access-date = 2024-08-11}}</ref>
| developer = [[Microsoft]]
| released = {{sda|1985|11|20|df=y}}
| latest release version = February 2025 Update (11.2502.2.0)
| latest release date = {{sda|2025|03|24|df=y}}<ref>{{Cite web
  | url         = https://apps.microsoft.com/detail/9wzdncrfhvn5
  | title       = Windows Calculator
  | website     = Microsoft Apps
  | access-date = 2025-03-24}}</ref>
| repo = {{URL|https://github.com/Microsoft/calculator}}
| programming language = [[C++]], [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]]
| operating system = All versions of [[Microsoft Windows]], [[Xbox system software]],{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} [[Windows 10 Mobile]], [[Windows Phone]]
| platform = [[IA-32]], [[x86-64]], [[ARM architecture|ARMv7-A]], and [[AArch64|ARMv8-A]] (and historically [[DEC Alpha]], [[Itanium]], [[MIPS architecture|MIPS]], and [[PowerPC]])
| genre = [[Software calculator]]
| license = [[Proprietary Software]] ([[Windows 1.0]] - [[Windows 8.1]]) <br/>
[[MIT License]] ([[Windows 10]])
}}
'''Windows Calculator''' is a [[software calculator]] developed by [[Microsoft]] and included in [[Microsoft Windows|Windows]]. In its [[Windows 10]] incarnation it has four modes: standard, scientific, programmer, and a graphing mode. The standard mode includes a number pad and buttons for performing arithmetic operations. The scientific mode takes this a step further and adds exponents and trigonometric function, and programmer mode allows the user to perform operations related to [[computer programming]]. In 2020, a graphing mode was added to the Calculator, allowing users to graph equations on a coordinate plane.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-17 |title=Windows Calculator will get a Graphing Mode: first look - gHacks Tech News |url=https://www.ghacks.net/2020/01/17/windows-calculator-will-get-a-graphing-mode-first-look/ |access-date=2022-09-02 |website=gHacks Technology News |language=en-US}}</ref>

The Windows Calculator is one of a few applications that have been bundled in all versions of Windows, starting with [[Windows 1.0]]. Since then, the calculator has been upgraded with various capabilities.

In addition, the calculator has also been included with [[Windows Phone]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.drwindows.de/news/7875-windows-phone-8-1-windows-10-mobile|title=Von Windows Phone 8.1 zu Windows 10 Mobile: Eine kleine Revolution in Screenshots|date=27 October 2015|access-date=27 January 2024|language=de|publisher=Dr.Windows}}</ref> and [[Xbox One]].{{citation needed|date=January 2024}} The Microsoft Store page proclaims [[HoloLens]] support as of February 2024, but the Calculator app is not installed on HoloLens by default.

==History==
A simple arithmetic calculator was first included with [[Windows 1.0]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Windows 1.01 |url=http://toastytech.com/guis/win1012.html |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=toastytech.com}}</ref>

In [[Windows 3.0]], a scientific mode was added, which included [[exponent]]s and [[Nth root|root]]s, [[logarithm]]s, [[factorial]]-based functions, [[trigonometry]] (supports [[radian]], [[degree (angle)|degree]] and [[gradian]]s angles), base conversions (2, 8, 10, 16), logic operations, [[statistics|statistical]] functions such as single variable statistics and linear regression.

===Windows 9x and Windows NT 4.0===
Until [[Windows 95]], it uses an [[IEEE 754-1985]] [[double-precision floating-point]], and the highest representable number by the calculator is 2<sup>1024</sup>, which is slightly above 10<sup>308</sup> (≈1.80 × 10<sup>308</sup>).

In [[Windows 98]] and later, it uses an [[arbitrary-precision arithmetic]] library, replacing the standard [[IEEE]] [[floating point]] library.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://devblogs.microsoft.com/oldnewthing/20040525-00/?p=39193 |title=When you change the insides, nobody notices |website=The Old New Thing|date=25 May 2004 | access-date=2007-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100306165045/http://blogs.msdn.com/oldnewthing/archive/2004/05/25/141253.aspx |archive-date=2010-03-06 |url-status=live }}</ref> It offers [[bignum]] precision for basic operations (addition, subtraction, multiplication, division) and 32 digits of precision for advanced operations ([[square root]], [[transcendental function]]s). The largest value that can be represented on the Windows Calculator is currently {{nowrap|<10<sup>10,000</sup>}} and the smallest is {{nowrap|10<sup>−9,999</sup>}}. (Also [[Factorial|!]] calculates the [[gamma function]] which is defined over all real numbers, only excluding the negative integers).

===Windows 2000, XP and Vista===
In [[Windows 2000]], [[digit grouping]] is added. Degree and base settings are added to menu bar.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:Calculator Vista Scientific.png|thumb|Scientific mode in [[Windows Vista]]]] -->
<!-- Observation: Actually calculates beyond what is shown on display, but losing accuracy at some point. E.g. (10/3)-3,3333333333333333… shows further three's, but when continuing to do that, at some point, it starts to deviate into a presumably irrational number with random digits.  -->

The calculators of [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Vista|Vista]] were able to calculate using numbers beyond 10<sup>10000</sup>, but calculating with these numbers (e.g. 10^2^2^2^2^2^2^2...) does increasingly slow down the calculator and make it unresponsive until the calculation has been completed.

Unlike later versions, calculating with [[Binary number|binary]]/[[decimal]]/[[hexadecimal]]/[[octal]] numbers is included into scientific mode.

===Windows 7===
In [[Windows 7]], separate programmer, statistics, unit conversion, date calculation, and worksheets modes were added. Tooltips were removed. Furthermore, Calculator's interface was revamped for the first time since its introduction. The base conversion functions were moved to the programmer mode and statistics functions were moved to the statistics mode. Switching between modes does not preserve the current number, clearing it to 0.

The highest number is now limited to 10<sup>10000</sup> again.

In every mode except programmer mode, one can see the history of calculations. The app was redesigned to accommodate [[multi-touch]]. Standard mode behaves as a simple checkbook calculator; entering the sequence <kbd>6 * 4 + 12 / 4 - 4 * 5</kbd> gives the answer 25. In scientific mode, [[order of operations]] is followed while doing calculations (multiplication and division are done before addition and subtraction), which means <kbd>6 * 4 + 12 / 4 - 4 * 5</kbd> = <samp>7</samp>.

In programmer mode, inputting a number in decimal has a lower and upper limit, depending on the data type, and must always be an integer. Data type of number in decimal mode is signed n-bit<ref>Where n is either: 8 for Byte, 16 for Word, 32 for Dword, or 64 for Qword.</ref> integer when converting from number in hexadecimal, octal, or binary mode.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:right"
|-
! Data type !! Data type size !! Lower limit !! Upper limit
|-
! Byte  
|  8 bit&emsp; || &minus;128 || 127
|-
! Word  
| 16 bit&emsp; || &minus;32,768 || 32,767
|-
! Dword 
| 32 bit&emsp; || &minus;2,147,483,648 || 2,147,483,647
|-
! Qword 
| 64 bit&emsp; || &minus;9,223,372,036,854,775,808 || 9,223,372,036,854,775,807
|}
On the right side of the main Calculator{{Clarify|reason=What does it mean by "the right side"?|date=May 2024}}, one can add a panel with date calculation, unit conversion and worksheets. Worksheets allow one to calculate a result of a chosen field based on the values of other fields. Pre-defined templates include calculating a car's fuel economy (mpg and L/100&nbsp;km),<ref>[http://malektips.com/windows-7-calculate-fuel-economy.html Calculate Fuel Economy - Windows 7 (MalekTips)]</ref> a vehicle lease, and a mortgage. In pre-beta versions of Windows 7, Calculator also provided a Wages template.

===Windows 8.1===
While the traditional Calculator is still included with [[Windows 8.1]], a [[Metro (design language)|Metro-style]] Calculator is also present, featuring a full-screen interface as well as normal, scientific, and conversion modes.<ref name=pt-81utility>{{cite web|title=Hands-On with Windows 8.1: New Utility Apps|url=http://winsupersite.com/windows-8/hands-windows-81-new-utility-apps|work=Paul Thurrott's Supersite for Windows|access-date=September 24, 2013}}</ref>

===Windows 10===
The Calculator in [[Windows 10 editions#Release branches|non-LTSC editions]] of [[Windows 10]] is a [[Universal Windows Platform app]]. In contrast, Windows 10 LTSC (which does not include universal Windows apps) includes the traditional calculator, but which is now named {{code|win32calc.exe}}. Both calculators provide the features of the traditional calculator included with Windows 7 and Windows 8.x, such as unit conversions for volume, length, weight, temperature, energy, area, speed, time, power, data, pressure and angle, and the history list which the user can clear.

Both the universal Windows app and LTSC's {{code|win32calc.exe}} register themselves with the system as handlers of a '{{code|calculator:}}' pseudo-protocol.<!-- i.e. both register a programmatic identifier (ProgID) and link to it from their respective 'Capabilities\URLAssociations' registrations (which in turn are pointed to from the {user|machine}\Software\RegisteredApplications registries).--> This registration is similar to that performed by any other well-behaved application when it registers itself as a handler for a filetype (e.g. {{code|.jpg}}) or protocol (e.g. {{code|http:}}).

All Windows 10 editions (both LTSC and non-LTSC) continue to have a {{code|calc.exe}}, which however is just a stub that launches (via ShellExecute) the handler that is associated with the '{{code|calculator:}}' pseudo-protocol. As with any other protocol or filetype, when there are multiple handlers to choose from, users are free to choose which handler they prefer{{mdash}} either via the classic control panel ('Default programs' settings) or the immersive UI settings ('Default Apps' settings) or from the command prompt via {{code|OpenWith calculator:}}.

In the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update, a currency converter mode was added to Calculator.<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Blog |first1=Windows Experience |last2=Pidgeon |first2=Elana |date=2017-12-28 |title=Windows 10 Tip: Travel easier with the built-in currency converter |url=https://blogs.windows.com/windowsexperience/2017/12/28/windows-10-tip-travel-easier-built-currency-converter/ |access-date=2024-08-04 |website=Windows Experience Blog |language=en-US}}</ref>

On 6 March 2019, Microsoft released the [[source code]] for Calculator on [[GitHub]] under the [[MIT License]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-is-open-sourcing-windows-calculator-on-github/|title=Microsoft is open-sourcing Windows Calculator on GitHub|last=Foley|first=Mary Jo|author-link=Mary Jo Foley|date=6 March 2019|website=ZDNet|access-date=6 March 2019}}</ref>

=== Windows 11 ===
In Windows 11, the Calculator app's user interface was modified to match the design of Windows 11 and a new settings page is present for users to toggle between the themes of the app without changing the operating system's theme. In 2021, Microsoft announced it would migrate the codebase of the Calculator app to [[C Sharp (programming language)|C#]] in order to welcome more developers to contribute to the app.

== Gallery ==
<gallery>
File:Microsoft Windows NT Calculator Version 3.1 261x269.png|Microsoft [[Windows NT]] Calculator Version 3.1
File:WindowsXPCalculator.png|[[Windows XP]] Calculator
File:Windows 7 Calculator.png|[[Windows 7]] Calculator with [[Windows Aero]]
File:Windows_8_Calculator.png|[[Windows 8]] Calculator
File:Windows 8.1 Calculator.png|[[Windows 8.1]]'s additional Metro-style calculator in standard mode
File:Windows 10 Calculator.png|[[Windows 10]] Modern UI Calculator
</gallery>

==Features==
By default, Calculator runs in standard mode, which resembles a four-function calculator. More advanced functions are available in scientific mode, including [[logarithm]]s, [[numerical base]] conversions, some [[logical connective|logical operators]], [[Order of operations|operator precedence]], [[radian]], [[degree (angle)|degree]] and [[gradians]] support as well as simple single-variable [[statistical]] functions. It does not provide support for user-defined functions, [[complex number]]s, storage variables for intermediate results (other than the classic accumulator memory of pocket calculators), automated [[polar coordinates|polar]]-[[Cartesian coordinates]] conversion, or support for two-variables statistics.

In addition, the programming mode allows conversions between bases 16, 10, 8, and 2, the most commonly used by programmers. In this mode, the on-screen [[numeric keypad]] includes the hexadecimal digits A through F, which are active when "Hex" is selected. In hex mode, only integers are supported.

Calculator supports [[keyboard shortcut]]s; all Calculator features have an associated keyboard shortcut.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/keyboard-shortcuts#keyboard-shortcuts=windows-8|title = Keyboard shortcuts|access-date = 11 March 2013|website = Windows 8 Help|publisher = [[Microsoft]]}}</ref>

Calculator in programmer mode cannot accept or display a number larger than a [[Signed number representations|signed]] [[Word (computer architecture)#Size families|QWORD]] (16 [[hexadecimal]] digits/64 bits). The largest number it can handle is therefore 0x7FFFFFFFFFFFFFFF (decimal 9,223,372,036,854,775,807). Any calculations in programmer mode which exceed this limit will [[Integer overflow|overflow]], even if those calculations would succeed in other modes. In particular, [[scientific notation]] is not available in this mode.

==Issues==
{{expand section|date=May 2020}}

* In Windows 7, 8, and some versions of Windows 10, [[transcendental function]] operations, such as the [[square root]] operator (<code>sqrt(4) &minus; 2 = &minus;8.1648465955514287168521180122928e&minus;39</code>), would sometimes be calculated incorrectly due to [[catastrophic cancelation]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Microsoft Fixes Decade-Old Windows Calculator Square Root Bug|url=https://news.softpedia.com/news/microsoft-fixes-decade-old-windows-calculator-square-root-bug-520559.shtml|access-date=2023-04-15|website=news.softpedia.com|date=5 April 2018 |language=en-US}}</ref> In newer versions, this doesn't happen with integers, but it still happens when you enter decimal numbers.{{Citation needed|date=July 2024}}
* Older versions of the universal Calculator in [[Windows 10 editions#Release branches|non-LTSC editions]] of [[Windows 10]] doesn't use any regional format (can be set in Region Control Panel) that are different from the app's display language for number formatting (the app's language is English (United States) but Windows's regional format is set to a different format).<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wrong usage of Regional settings in Windows 10 Apps: weather, calculator|url=https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_10-other_settings-winpc/wrong-usage-of-regional-settings-in-windows-10/25db7ff1-aef5-4f3a-b958-21d843b04a74|access-date=2021-01-24|website=answers.microsoft.com|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Calculator Plus==
Calculator Plus is a separate application for [[Windows XP]] and [[Windows Server 2003]] users that adds a 'Conversion' mode over the Windows XP version of the Calculator. The 'Conversion' mode supports [[unit conversion]] and [[currency conversion]]. Currency exchange rates can be updated using the built-in update feature, which downloads exchange rates from the [[European Central Bank]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Microsoft Calculator Plus |url=https://www.tek.no/nyheter/nyhet/i/P9qax0/microsoft-calculator-plus |website=Tek.no |language=no |date=13 September 2004}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Use this great maths tool for cheats! - 9Finance |url=https://finance.nine.com.au/small-business/use-this-great-maths-tool-for-cheats/cc31189d-a316-4f8a-87ce-f05a37887f65 |website=finance.nine.com.au|date=June 2024 }}</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Free and open-source software}}
* [[Formula calculator]]
* [[List of formerly proprietary software]]
* [[Microsoft Math Solver]]
* [[Power Calculator]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [https://www.microsoft.com/store/productId/9WZDNCRFHVN5 Windows Calculator] on [[Microsoft Store (digital)|Microsoft Store]]
* [https://github.com/Microsoft/calculator Source code on GitHub]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090316031019/http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyID=32b0d059-b53a-4dc9-8265-da47f157c091&displaylang=en  Microsoft Calculator Plus]

{{Microsoft FOSS}}
{{Windows Components}}
{{Calculator navbox}}

[[Category:1985 software]]
[[Category:Formerly proprietary software]]
[[Category:Free and open-source software]]
[[Category:Mathematical software]]
[[Category:Microsoft free software]]
[[Category:Software calculators]]
[[Category:Software using the MIT license]]
[[Category:Universal Windows Platform apps]]
[[Category:Windows components]]
[[Category:Xbox One software]]
[[Category:Windows Phone software]]