Format output using printf() (C)


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FAQ > How do I... (Level 1) > Format output using printf() (C)

This item was added on: 2003/03/22

Formatting output with printf is surprisingly simple once you get used to it. The first argument to printf is a format string which determines the number and type of values. The types of values are determined by single letter, the types are:


 d /* int, signed base 10 */
 i /* int, signed base 10 */
 o /* int, unsigned base 8, no leading 0 */
 x /* int, unsigned base 16, abcdef with no leading 0x */
 X /* int, unsigned base 16, ABCDEF with no leading 0X */
 u /* int, unsigned base 10 */
 s /* char *, nul terminated sequence of characters */
 c /* int, single character */
 f /* double, notation [-]mm.dd */
 e /* double, notation [-]m.dde[+/-]xx */
 E /* double, notation [-]m.ddE[+/-]xx */
 g /* double, %e if exponent is less than -4 or >= the precision, %f otherwise */
 G /* double, %E if exponent is less than -4 or >= the precision, %f otherwise */
 p /* void *, implementation dependent representation */
 n /* int *, the number of characters written so far. Assigned to the argument */
 % /* print a % character */


A format flag begins with the % character, after which maybe one of the following prior to the conversion character:


 1: Flags that modify the specification:
   -, specifies left adjustment
   +, specifies that the number will be printed with a sign space, space prefix if no sign is present
   0, pads numbers with leading zeros
   #, alternate output form.
     %o, prefix with 0
     %x, prefix with 0x
     %X, prefix with 0X
     %e, E, f, g, G, always show a radix point
     %g, %G, show trailing zeros
 
 2: A number specifying the minimum field width.
 
 3: A period, separating field width from precision
 
 4: A number specifying the precision length
 
 5: A length modifier, h, l, or L. h specifies a short or unsigned short value, 
    l specifies a long or unsigned long, and L specifies long double.


The width or precision can be replaced with *, where the value is computed
from the next integer argument. Here are some uses of these formats:


#include <stdio.h> 

int main ( void )
{
  printf ( "%5d\n", 123 );      /* Prints "  123" */
  printf ( "%*d\n", 5, 123 );   /* Prints "  123" */
  printf ( "%+05d\n", 123 );    /* Prints "+0123" */
  printf ( "%x\n", 123U );      /* Prints "7b" */
  printf ( "%#x\n", 123U );     /* Prints "0x7b" */
  printf ( "%#X\n", 123U );     /* Prints "0X7B" */
  printf ( "%-10.2f\n", 12.3 ); /* Prints "12.30" */
  printf ( "%10.2f\n", 12.3 );  /* Prints "     12.30" */
  printf ( "%lu\n", 123UL );    /* Prints "123" */
  printf ( "%s\n", "Testing" ); /* Prints "Testing" */
  printf ( "%c\n", 'A' );       /* Prints "A" */

  return 0;
}

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