What’s Java printf?
The Java printf operate helps simplify the duty of printing formatted output to the console, terminal window or log recordsdata.
The Java printf operate makes it simpler to create informative strings of textual content with out utilizing String concatenation, or counting on non-standard characters that may set off output errors.
In Java, printf is advisable as a substitute for calls to the print or println strategies.
How do you format output with Java printf?
To format textual content based mostly output with the Java printf technique, observe these steps:
- Create a textual content String literal that features variable substitution factors
- Use the suitable conversion specifiers the place variable substitution happens
- Add extra flags to the conversion specifiers to format for width, padding and annotations
- Move the String to the Java
printftechnique and provide corresponding arguments for every conversion specifier
How do you format a String with Java printf?
The best strategy to perceive how the Java printf technique works is to look at a pattern code snippet.
The next Java printf instance codecs a textual content String, and substitutes two variables into the textual content the place the %s and %S conversion specifiers seem:
public class FormatOutputJavaPrintf /* Easy Java printf String instance. */ public static void major(String[] args) String identify = "Cameron"; String website = "TechTarget"; System.out.printf("I just like the stuff %s writes on %S. %n", identify, website); /* Printf output: I just like the stuff Cameron writes on TECHTARGET. */
This Java printf String instance generates the next formatted output:
I just like the articles Cameron writes on TECHTARGET.
This easy Java printf instance gives three vital takeaways:
- The
%sprintfspecifier doesn’t change letter casing. - The
%Sprintfspecifier adjustments letter casing to uppercase. - The variables should be listed within the order they’re referenced within the
printfString.
| Sample | Information | Printf Output |
'%s' |
Java |
'Java' |
'%15s' |
Java |
' Java' |
'%-15s ' |
Java |
'Java ' |
'%-15S ' |
Java |
'JAVA ' |
What does %n in Java printf imply?
If you format a String with Java printf, you should use %n instead of n to specify a line break.
What’s the customary Java printf syntax?
The format of the Java printf conversion specifiers at all times follows the identical sample:
% [flags] [width] [.precision] specifier-character
The flags, width and precision settings are all non-compulsory. Nonetheless, the character specifier should match the information kind of the corresponding argument, or else a formatting error will happen.
With pure textual content Strings, the one flag that is sensible is the minus signal ( - ). This codecs textual content to the left if the variety of characters exceeds the width setting.
Many of the Java printf flags are meant to be used with integers and floating level numbers.
| printf flag | Goal |
| – | Aligns the formatted printf output to the left |
| + | The output features a adverse or constructive signal |
| ( | Locations adverse numbers in parenthesis |
| 0 | The formatted printf output is zero padded |
| , | The formatted output consists of grouping separators |
| <area> | A clean area provides a minus signal for adverse numbers and a number one area when constructive |
How do you format an integer with printf in Java?
To format a digit or integer with Java printf:
- Use
%dbecause the conversion specifier for Base-10 numbers. - Precede the letter
dwith a comma to group numbers by the 1000’s. - Add an non-compulsory
+flag to trigger constructive numbers to show a constructive signal. - Use the
0flag to zero-pad the quantity to refill the area specified by the width.
package deal com.mcnz.printf.instance; public class JavaPrintfInteger /* Format integer output with Java printf */ public static void major(String[] args) int above = -98765; lengthy beneath = 54321L; System.out.printf("%,d :: %d", above, beneath); /* Instance prints: -00098,765 :: +54,321 */
| Sample | Information | Printf output |
| ‘%d’ | 123,457,890 |
'123457890' |
| ‘%,15d’ | 123,457,890 |
' 123,457,890' |
| ‘%+,15d’ | 123457890 |
' +123,457,890' |
| ‘%-+,15d’ | 123457890 |
'+123,457,890 ' |
| ‘%0,15d’ | 123457890 |
'0000123,457,890' |
| ‘%15o’ | 123457890 |
' 726750542' |
| ‘%15x’ | 123457890 |
' 75bd162' |
The next picture exhibits methods to carry out superior Java printf integer formatting:
Java double and float values can simply be formatted and output with Java printf.
How do you format a Java double with printf?
To format a Java float or double with printf, observe the identical steps to format an integer with the next two addendums:
- The conversion specifier for a floating level quantity is
%f, not%d. - Use the precision parameter to truncate decimals.
Right here is a straightforward instance of methods to use Java printf to format floats and double output:
package deal com.mcnz.printf.instance; public class FloatingPointPrintfExample /* Format float and double output with printf. */ public static void major(String[] args) double high = 1234.12345; float backside = 1234.12345f; System.out.printf("%+,.3f :: %,.5f", high, backside); /* Instance prints: +1,234.123 :: 1234.12345 */
The %+,.3f setting breaks down like this:
- The plus image
+instructs Javaprintfto incorporate a plus signal if the double is constructive. - The comma instructs Java
printfso as to add a thousandths group separator. - The
.3instructs Javaprintfto restrict output to a few decimal locations. %fis the specifier used to format double and floats withprintf.
| Printf specifier | Information kind |
| %s | String of textual content |
| %f | floating level worth (float or double) |
| %e | Exponential, scientific notation of a float or double |
| %b | boolean true or false worth |
| %c | Single character char |
| %d | Base 10 integer, corresponding to a Java int, lengthy, brief or byte |
| %o | Octal quantity |
| %x | Hexadecimal quantity |
| %% | Share signal |
| %n | New line, aka carriage-return |
| %tY | Yr to 4 digits |
| %tT | Time in format of HH:MM:SS ( ie 21:46:30) |
Scientific notation in Java with printf
To output a floating level quantity utilizing scientific notation, merely use %e as an alternative of %f to specify the variables.
package deal com.mcnz.scientific.notation; public class PrintfScientificNotationExample /* Format float and double output with printf. */ public static void major(String[] args) double high = 1234.12345; float backside = 1234.12345f; System.out.printf("%+,.3e :: %,.5e", high, backside); /* Instance prints: +1.234e+03 :: 1.23412e+03 */
Discover how this instance prints out +1.234e+03 :: 1.23412e+03 fairly than +1,234.123 :: 1234.12345, which is what the previous instance generates.
FormatFlagsConversionMismatchException
Make sure you take away any commas within the specifier, as making an attempt so as to add thousandths groupings for scientific notation will lead to a FormatFlagsConversionMismatchException.
Superior double formatting with printf in Java
The next picture demonstrates using numerous flags, precision settings and width specifiers to create a desk containing advance formatting of doubles with printf.
Right here’s the code and output of a desk of Java double printf examples.
How do you format a Java char or boolean with printf?
In Java, a char makes use of the %c specifier. A boolean values makes use of %b.
Should you use %C or %B is used to format a boolean or char with Java printf, the values are printed in uppercase.
package deal com.mcnz.scientific.notation; public class PrintfCharBooleanExample /* Boolean char Java printf instance. */ public static void major(String[] args) boolean flag = false; char coal = 1234.12345f; System.out.printf("%B :: %c :: %C", flag, coal, 'u0077'); /* Instance prints: FALSE :: a :: W */
As you’ll be able to see on this instance, the printf assertion not solely codecs char variables, however it additionally converts and correctly prints out unicode character numbers.
How do you format a Date in Java with printf?
One of the simplest ways to output date and time values in Java is with the DateTimeFormatter class. However the printf technique helps easy date formatting by using the %t conversion specifier together with a further date element parameter.
With a java.util.Date object, we are able to use the next choices:
%tHto show the hour%tMto show the minutes%tSto show the seconds%tpto print am or pm%txfor the time-zone offset
Java printf date instance
The next instance codecs the time with printf:
Date d = new Date(); System.out.printf("%tH %tM %tS %tz", d, d, d, d); /* Outputs: 22 26 49 -0400 */
How do you format native time in Java with printf?
Fashionable applications desire to make use of the LocalDateTime object over java.util.Date.
The next parameters are generally used to format DateTime output with Java printf:
%tAtoprintfthe day of the week in full%tatoprintfthe abbreviated day of the week%tBtoprintfthe total identify of the month%tbtoprintfthe abbreviated month identify%tdtoprintfthe day of the month%tYto output all 4 digits of the 12 months%tYtoprintfthe final two digits of the 12 months%tpto show am or pm%tLto show the millisecond offset%tzto show the time-zone offset
Java printf time instance
The next Java printf time instance demonstrates methods to format values outlined in a LocalDateTime object:
LocalDateTime dt = LocalDateTime.now(); System.out.printf(" %ta %te, %tY %tT %tp ", dt, dt, dt, dt, dt); /* Codecs LocalDateTime output as: Sat 6, 2022 21:19:56 pm */
This Java time printf instance prints out:Sat 6, 2022 21:19:56 pm
How do you format a desk with printf?
Generally builders wish to neatly format difficult textual content knowledge earlier than it’s printed to the console or a log file.
The Java printf command doesn’t present any built-in options that assist construction output. Nonetheless, inventive use of the Java printf technique can generate knowledge tables.
For instance, the next code generates a desk that paperwork the properties of the Java primitive sorts:
System.out.printf("--------------------------------%n"); System.out.printf(" Java's Primitive Varieties %n"); System.out.printf(" (printf desk instance) %n"); System.out.printf("--------------------------------%n"); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %4s |%n", "CATEGORY", "NAME", "BITS"); System.out.printf("--------------------------------%n"); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Floating", "double", 64); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Floating", "float", 32); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Integral", "lengthy", 64); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Integral", "int", 32); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Integral", "char", 16); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Integral", "brief", 16); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Integral", "byte", 8); System.out.printf("| %-10s | %-8s | %04d |%n", "Boolean", "boolean", 1); System.out.printf("--------------------------------%n");
When the code runs, a tabular output is created.
Create a Java printf desk by the inventive use of width, precision and printf format flags.
Java printf examples
The Java printf assertion drastically simplifies the duty for formatting output generated in a Java program.
Study the basics of the Java printf assertion, and you’ll save a substantial amount of time when producing output for the console, logs and different text-based output streams.
| Sample | Information | Printf output |
| ‘%s’ | Java |
'Java' |
| ‘%15s’ | Java |
' Java' |
| ‘%-15s ‘ | Java |
'Java ' |
| ‘%d’ | 123,457,890 |
'123457890' |
| ‘%,15d’ | 123,457,890 |
' 123,457,890' |
| ‘%+,15d’ | 123457890 |
' +123,457,890' |
| ‘%-+,15d’ | 123457890 |
'+123,457,890 ' |
| ‘%0,15d’ | 123457890 |
'0000123,457,890' |
| ‘%15o’ | 123457890 |
' 726750542' |
| ‘%15x’ | 123457890 |
' 75bd162' |
| ‘%15f’ | 12345.123450 |
' 12345.123450' |
| ‘%-15.3f’ | 12345.123450 |
'12345.123 ' |
| ‘%015.3f’ | 12345.123450 |
'00000012345.123' |
| ‘%e’ | 12345.123450 |
'1.234579e+08' |
| ‘%.2e’ | 12345.123450 |
'1.23e+08' |
| ‘%7tH %<-7tM’ |
new Date() |
' 22 35 ' |
| ‘%15tT’ |
LocalDateTime.now() |
' 22:35:53' |
