The C-like Java 5 method System.out.printf() is used for formatted output. The method takes as arguments a format string and an optional list of variables or literals to output. The variables and literals are output according to the specifications in the format string. Here is the prototype for the original C function printf().
The format string may consists both of characters and literals, and determines how printf() will format arg_1 - arg_n. Each of the arguments arg_1 - arg_n requires a format specifier, begins with the character % and has the following syntax:
Here the terms put in brackets are optional. The meaning of these terms is as follows:
| term | meaning |
|---|---|
| - | left justify the argument |
| + | print a number with its sign, + or - |
| 0 | pads a number with leading zeros |
| x | minimum field width |
| .y | number of decimal places |
The conv is a character from the following list:
| conv | meaning |
|---|---|
| b | boolean (true/false) |
| d | integer |
| e | exponential notation |
| f | floating point number |
| o | unsigned octal |
| s | string of characters |
| x | unsigned lower-case hexadecimal |
| X | unsigned upper-case hexadecimal |
The format string, or strings to be output, can contain special control sequences (escape sequences):
| ECS sequence | meaning |
|---|---|
| \' | single quote |
| \" | double quote |
| \\ | backslash |
| \b | backspace |
| \f | form feed |
| \n | new line |
| \r | carriage return |
| \t | horizontal tab |
For more information please check printf docs in Java API.
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