Why would you use a string in JSON to represent a decimal number

Question

Some APIs, like the paypal API use a string type in JSON to represent a decimal number. So \"7.47\" instead of 7.47.

Why/when would this b

Answer 1

The reason I'm doing it is that the SoftwareAG parser tries to "guess" the java type from the value it receives.

So when it receives

"jackpot":{
 "growth":200,
 "percentage":66.67
}

The first value (growth) will become a java.lang.Long and the second (percentage) will become a java.lang.Double

Now when the second object in this jackpot-array has this

"jackpot":{
 "growth":50.50,
 "percentage":65
}

I have a problem.

When I exchange these values as Strings, I have complete control and can cast/convert the values to whatever I want.