The printf Function

The printf function outputs a string, formatted according to a specified format. The first parameter accepts a format string, and the subsequent parameters are the values for substitution. The format string uses special characters (format specifiers), which start with the % sign and control the output formatting.

Syntax

printf(string $format, mixed ...$values): int

Format Specifiers

Specifier	Description
`%s`	String
`%d`	Signed integer (decimal)
`%u`	Unsigned integer (decimal)
`%f`	Floating-point number (locale dependent)
`%F`	Floating-point number (non-locale aware)
`%c`	Character by ASCII code
`%x`	Integer in hexadecimal (lowercase)
`%X`	Integer in hexadecimal (uppercase)
`%o`	Integer in octal system
`%b`	Integer in binary system
`%e`	Scientific notation (lowercase)
`%E`	Scientific notation (uppercase)
`%g`	Short form of %e or %f
`%G`	Short form of %E or %F
`%%`	Percent sign

Example

In this example, %s will be replaced with the word 'apples', and %d with the number 3:

<?php
	$product = 'apples';
	$num = 3;
	printf('product - %s, amount - %d', $product, $num);
?>

Code execution result:

'product - apples, amount - 3'

Example

In this example, the parameters are swapped and numbering is introduced:

<?php
	$num = 3;
	$product = 'apples';
	printf('product - %2$s, amount - %1$d', $num, $product);
?>

Code execution result:

'product - apples, amount - 3'

Example

In this example, the number is needed several times, so numbering is introduced:

<?php
	$num = 3;
	$product = 'apples';
	printf('product - %1$s, amount - %2$d, count - %2$d', $product, $num);
?>

Code execution result:

'product - apples, amount - 3, count - 3'

The printf Function

Syntax

Format Specifiers

Example

Example

Example

See Also