w3resource

PHP: printf() function

Description

The printf() function displays a formatted string from one or more arguments.

Version:

(PHP 4 and above)

Syntax:

printf(format ,arg1, arg2, arg3....)

Parameter:

Name Description Required /
Optional
Type
format Each conversion specification starts with a single percent sign (%) and ends with the following conversion characters.
% - returns a percent sign.
b - the argument is treated as an integer and display it as a binary number.
c - the argument is treated as an integer and display it as a an ASCII value.
d - the argument is treated as an integer and display as a signed decimal number.
e - the argument is treated as scientific notation (e.g. 1.2e+2).
E - the argument treated as scientific notation (e.g.1.2E+2).
u - the argument is treated as an integer, and display as an unsigned decimal number.
f- the argument is treated as a float, and display as a floating-point number. (local aware)
F - the argument is treated as a float, and display as a floating-point number (non-locale aware).
g - shorter of %e and %f.
G - shorter of %E and %f.
o- the argument is treated as an integer, and display as an octal number.
s - the argument is treated as string and display as a string.
x - the argument is treated as an integer and display as a hexadecimal number (with lowercase letters).
X - the argument is treated as an integer and display as a hexadecimal number (with uppercase letters).

Optional specification :
Sign specifier : display a sign (+ or -) in front a number. By default, a - sign is used in front of a number if it is negative.

Padding character :
Default character is space. An alternate padding character can be specified by prefixing it with a single quote.
Alignment specifier. : - character makes the alignment left-justified. The default is right justified.
Width specifier : An integer number specifies the width of the field.
Precision specifier : The argument specifies how many decimal number should be displayed for floating numbers. When using this specifier on a string, it acts as a cutoff point, setting a maximum character limit to the string.
Required String
arg1 The argument to be added as the first %-sign in the formatted string. Required Mixed
arg2, arg3.... These arguments will be added as second %, third % etc. in the formatted string. Optional Mixed

*Mixed : Mixed indicates that a parameter may accept multiple (but not necessarily all) types.

Return value:

Returns the length of the outputted string.

Value Type: Integer.

Pictorial Presentation

php-string-printf()

Example:

<?php
$string1 = "Hello";
$var1 = 12;
printf('%s, we are learning the %uth chapter of PHP.',$string1, $var1);
?>

Output :

Hello, we are learning the 12th chapter of PHP.

View the example in the browser

See also

PHP Function Reference

Previous: print
Next: quoted_printable_ decode



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PHP: Tips of the Day

var_export(): var_export() dumps a PHP parseable representation of the item.

You can pass true as the second parameter to return the contents into a variable.

Example:

<?php
$myarray = [ "PHP", "Tips" ];
$mystring = "PHP Tips";
$myint = 28;

var_export($myarray);
var_export($mystring);
var_export($myint);
?>

Output:

array (
  0 => 'PHP',
  1 => 'Tips',
)'PHP Tips'28

To put the content into a variable, you can do this:

$array_export = var_export($myarray, true);
$string_export = var_export($mystring, true);
$int_export = var_export($myint, 1); // any `Truthy` value

After that, you can output it like this:

printf('$myarray = %s; %s', $array_export, PHP_EOL);
printf('$mystring = %s; %s', $string_export, PHP_EOL);
printf('$myint = %s; %s', $int_export, PHP_EOL);

Example:

<?php
$myarray = [ "PHP", "Tips" ];
$mystring = "PHP Tips";
$myint = 28;
$array_export = var_export($myarray, true);
$string_export = var_export($mystring, true);
$int_export = var_export($myint, 1);
printf('$myarray = %s; %s', $array_export, PHP_EOL);
printf('$mystring = %s; %s', $string_export, PHP_EOL);
printf('$myint = %s; %s', $int_export, PHP_EOL);
?>

This will produce the following output:

Output:

$myarray = array (
  0 => 'PHP',
  1 => 'Tips',
);
$mystring = 'PHP Tips';
$myint = 28;

 





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