Question to datatype.sgml

Hi,

Can you please someone elaborate what's the meaning of "even" in
datatype.sgml?

<para>
By default, floating point values are output in text form in their
shortest precise decimal representation; the decimal value produced is
closer to the true stored binary value than to any other value
representable in the same binary precision. (However, the output value is
currently never <emphasis>exactly</emphasis> midway between two
representable values, in order to avoid a widespread bug where input
routines do not properly respect the round-to-even rule.) This value will
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
use at most 17 significant decimal digits for <type>float8</type>
values, and at most 9 digits for <type>float4</type> values.
</para>

I think "even" means "equality" here, not "even" of "even and odd".

Best regards,
--
Tatsuo Ishii
SRA OSS, Inc. Japan
English: http://www.sraoss.co.jp/index_en.php
Japanese:http://www.sraoss.co.jp