PHP printf() Function

Example

Output a formatted string:

<?php
$number = 9;
$str = "Beijing";
printf("There are %u million bicycles in %s.",$number,$str);
?>

Definition and Usage

The printf() function outputs a formatted string.

The arg1, arg2, ++ parameters will be inserted at percent (%) signs in the main string. This function works "step-by-step". At the first % sign, arg1 is inserted, at the second % sign, arg2 is inserted, etc.

Note: If there are more % signs than arguments, you must use placeholders. A placeholder is inserted after the % sign, and consists of the argument- number and "\$". See example two.

Tip: Related functions: sprintf(), vprintf(), vsprintf(), fprintf() and vfprintf()

Syntax

printf(format,arg1,arg2,arg++)

Parameter Values

Parameter	Description
format	Required. Specifies the string and how to format the variables in it. Possible format values: %% - Returns a percent sign %b - Binary number %c - The character according to the ASCII value %d - Signed decimal number (negative, zero or positive) %e - Scientific notation using a lowercase (e.g. 1.2e+2) %E - Scientific notation using a uppercase (e.g. 1.2E+2) %u - Unsigned decimal number (equal to or greather than zero) %f - Floating-point number (local settings aware) %F - Floating-point number (not local settings aware) %g - shorter of %e and %f %G - shorter of %E and %f %o - Octal number %s - String %x - Hexadecimal number (lowercase letters) %X - Hexadecimal number (uppercase letters) Additional format values. These are placed between the % and the letter (example %.2f): + (Forces both + and - in front of numbers. By default, only negative numbers are marked) ' (Specifies what to use as padding. Default is space. Must be used together with the width specifier. Example: %'x20s (this uses "x" as padding) - (Left-justifies the variable value) [0-9] (Specifies the minimum width held of to the variable value) .[0-9] (Specifies the number of decimal digits or maximum string length) Note: If multiple additional format values are used, they must be in the same order as above.
arg1	Required. The argument to be inserted at the first %-sign in the format string
arg2	Optional. The argument to be inserted at the second %-sign in the format string
arg++	Optional. The argument to be inserted at the third, fourth, etc. %-sign in the format string

Technical Details

Return Value:	Returns the length of the outputted string
PHP Version:	4+

More Examples

Example

Using the format value %f:

<?php
$number = 123;
printf("%f",$number);
?>

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Example

Use of placeholders:

<?php
$number = 123;
printf("With 2 decimals: %1\$.2f
 With no decimals: %1\$u",$number);
?>

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Example

A demonstration of all possible format values:

<?php
$num1 = 123456789;
$num2 = -123456789;
$char = 50; // The ASCII Character 50 is 2

// Note: The format value "%%" returns a percent sign
printf("%%b = %b ",$num1); // Binary number
printf("%%c = %c ",$char); // The ASCII Character
printf("%%d = %d ",$num1); // Signed decimal number
printf("%%d = %d ",$num2); // Signed decimal number
printf("%%e = %e ",$num1); // Scientific notation (lowercase)
printf("%%E = %E ",$num1); // Scientific notation (uppercase)
printf("%%u = %u ",$num1); // Unsigned decimal number (positive)
printf("%%u = %u ",$num2); // Unsigned decimal number (negative)
printf("%%f = %f ",$num1); // Floating-point number (local settings aware)
printf("%%F = %F ",$num1); // Floating-point number (not local settings aware)
printf("%%g = %g ",$num1); // Shorter of %e and %f
printf("%%G = %G ",$num1); // Shorter of %E and %f
printf("%%o = %o ",$num1); // Octal number
printf("%%s = %s ",$num1); // String
printf("%%x = %x ",$num1); // Hexadecimal number (lowercase)
printf("%%X = %X ",$num1); // Hexadecimal number (uppercase)
printf("%%+d = %+d ",$num1); // Sign specifier (positive)
printf("%%+d = %+d ",$num2); // Sign specifier (negative)
?>

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Example

A demonstration of string specifiers:

<?php
$str1 = "Hello";
$str2 = "Hello world!";

printf("[%s] ",$str1);
printf("[%8s] ",$str1);
printf("[%-8s] ",$str1);
printf("[%08s] ",$str1);
printf("[%'*8s] ",$str1);
printf("[%8.8s] ",$str2);
?>

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❮ PHP String Reference