By invoking the methods provided by the
 class, you can format numbers, currencies, and percentages according
to <CODE>Locale</CODE>. The material that follows demonstrates
formatting techniques with a sample program called

.

</blockquote>
<h3>Numbers</h3>
<blockquote>
You can use the <CODE>NumberFormat</CODE> methods to format
primitive-type numbers, such as <CODE>double</CODE>, and their
corresponding wrapper objects, such as <CODE>Double</CODE>.
<P>
The following code example formats a <CODE>Double</CODE> according to
<CODE>Locale</CODE>. Invoking the <CODE>getNumberInstance</CODE> method
returns a locale-specific instance of <CODE>NumberFormat</CODE>. The
<CODE>format</CODE> method accepts the <CODE>Double</CODE> as an
argument and returns the formatted number in a <CODE>String</CODE>.

Double amount = new Double(345987.246);
NumberFormat numberFormatter;
String amountOut;

numberFormatter = NumberFormat.getNumberInstance(currentLocale);
amountOut = numberFormatter.format(amount);
System.out.println(amountOut + &quot; &quot; + 
                   currentLocale.toString());

<P>
The output from this example shows how the format of the same number
varies with <CODE>Locale</CODE>:

345 987,246	 fr_FR
345.987,246	 de_DE
345,987.246	 en_US

</blockquote>

<h3>Currencies</h3>
<blockquote>
If you're writing business applications, you'll probably need to format
and to display currencies. You format currencies in the same manner as
numbers, except that you call <CODE>getCurrencyInstance</CODE> to
create a formatter. When you invoke the <CODE>format </CODE> method, it
returns a <CODE>String </CODE> that includes the formatted number and
the appropriate currency sign.
<P>
This code example shows how to format currency in a locale-specific manner: 

Double currency = new Double(9876543.21);
NumberFormat currencyFormatter;
String currencyOut;

currencyFormatter = NumberFormat.getCurrencyInstance(currentLocale);
currencyOut = currencyFormatter.format(currency);
System.out.println(currencyOut + &quot; &quot; + 			
                   currentLocale.toString());

<P>
The output generated by the preceding lines of code is as follows: 

9 876 543,21 F	 fr_FR
9.876.543,21 DM	 de_DE
&#36;9,876,543.21	 en_US

<P>
At first glance this output may look wrong to you, because the numeric
values are all the same. Of course, 9 876 543,21 F is not equivalent to
9.876.543,21 DM. However, bear in mind that the
<CODE>NumberFormat</CODE> class is unaware of exchange rates. The
methods belonging to the <CODE>NumberFormat</CODE> class format
currencies but do not convert them.
</blockquote>

<h3>Percentages</h3>
<blockquote>
You can also use the methods of the <CODE>NumberFormat</CODE> class to
format percentages. To get the locale-specific formatter, invoke the
<CODE>getPercentInstance</CODE> method. With this formatter, a decimal
fraction such as 0.75 is displayed as 75%.
<P>
The following code sample shows how to format a percentage. 

Double percent = new Double(0.75);
NumberFormat percentFormatter;
String percentOut;

percentFormatter = NumberFormat.getPercentInstance(currentLocale);
percentOut = percentFormatter.format(percent);