C Format Specifier

The Format specifier is a string used in the formatted input and output functions. The format string determines the format of the input and output. The format string always starts with a '%' character.

The commonly used format specifiers in printf() function are:

Let's understand the format specifiers in detail through an example.

• %d

In the above code, we are printing the integer value of b and c by using the %d specifier.

Output

• %u

In the above program, we are displaying the value of b and c by using an unsigned format specifier, i.e., %u. The value of b is positive, so %u specifier prints the exact value of b, but it does not print the value of c as c contains the negative value.

Output

• %o

In the above code, we are displaying the octal value and integer value of a.

Output

• %x and %X

In the above code, y contains the hexadecimal value 'A'. We display the hexadecimal value of y in two formats. We use %x and %X to print the hexadecimal value where %x displays the value in small letters, i.e., 'a' and %X displays the value in a capital letter, i.e., 'A'.

Output

• %f

The above code prints the floating value of y.

Output

• %e

Output

• %E

Output

• %g

In the above code, we are displaying the floating value of y by using %g specifier. The %g specifier displays the output same as the input with a same precision.

Output

• %p

Output

• %c

Output

• %s

Output

Minimum Field Width Specifier

Suppose we want to display an output that occupies a minimum number of spaces on the screen. You can achieve this by displaying an integer number after the percent sign of the format specifier.

In the above program, %8d specifier displays the value after 8 spaces while %-8d specifier will make a value left-aligned.

Output

Now we will see how to fill the empty spaces. It is shown in the below code:

In the above program, %08d means that the empty space is filled with zeroes.

Output

Specifying Precision

We can specify the precision by using '.' (Dot) operator which is followed by integer and format specifier.

Output