What is the maximum number of significant digits a double value can hold?

A double value, which is a data type used in programming languages to represent floating-point numbers, typically adheres to the IEEE 754 standard for binary floating-point arithmetic. In this standard, a double-precision floating-point number consists of 64 bits. This representation allows for about 15 to 17 significant decimal digits of precision.

The assertion that a double can hold a maximum of 15 significant digits is accurate because it reflects the practical limit of precision that can be reliably represented in calculations. While the theoretical range extends slightly beyond this, for most applications and numerical computations, 15 significant digits is the accepted maximum for ensuring accuracy.

In contrast, the other options reflect smaller precision levels which do not accurately represent the capabilities of the double data type. Therefore, the correct answer provides the best estimation of the precise limits of a double's significant digits according to standard computing practices.