Python String Formatting
To make sure a string will display as expected, we can format the result with
the format() method.
String format()
The format() method allows you to format selected parts of a string.
Sometimes there are parts of a text that you do not control, maybe they come from a database, or user input?
To control such values,
add placeholders (curly brackets {}) in the text, and run the values through the
format() method:
Example
Add a placeholder where you want to display the price:
price = 49
txt = "The price is {} dollars"
print(txt.format(price))
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You can add parameters inside the curly brackets to specify how to convert the value:
Example
Format the price to be displayed as a number with two decimals:
txt = "The price is {:.2f} dollars"
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Check out all formatting types in our String format() Reference.
Multiple Values
If you want to use more values, just add more values to the format() method:
print(txt.format(price, itemno, count))
And add more placeholders:
Example
quantity = 3
itemno = 567
price = 49
myorder = "I want {} pieces of
item number {} for {:.2f} dollars."
print(myorder.format(quantity, itemno, price))
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Index Numbers
You can use index numbers (a number inside the curly brackets {0}) to be sure the
values are placed
in the correct placeholders:
Example
quantity = 3
itemno = 567
price = 49
myorder = "I want {0} pieces of
item number {1} for {2:.2f} dollars."
print(myorder.format(quantity, itemno, price))
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Also, if you want to refer to the same value more than once, use the index number:
Example
age = 36
name = "John"
txt = "His name is {1}. {1} is {0} years old."
print(txt.format(age,
name))
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Named Indexes
You can also use named indexes by entering a name inside the curly brackets {carname},
but then you must use names when you pass the parameter values
txt.format(carname = "Ford"):
Example
myorder = "I have a {carname}, it is a {model}."
print(myorder.format(carname
= "Ford", model = "Mustang"))
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