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:
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price = 49txt = "The price is {} dollars"print(txt.format(price))
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:
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txt = "The price is {:.2f} dollars"
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
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quantity = 3itemno = 567price = 49myorder = "I want {} pieces of item number {} for {:.2f} dollars."print(myorder.format(quantity, itemno, price))
You can use index numbers (a number inside the curly brackets {0}) to be sure the values are placed in the correct placeholders:
Example
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quantity = 3itemno = 567price = 49myorder = "I want {0} pieces of item number {1} for {2:.2f} dollars."print(myorder.format(quantity, itemno, price))
Also, if you want to refer to the same value more than once, use the index number:
Example
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age = 36name = "John"txt = "His name is {1}. {1} is {0} years old."print(txt.format(age, name))
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
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myorder = "I have a {carname}, it is a {model}."print(myorder.format(carname = "Ford", model = "Mustang"))
