PHP sprintf() Function
Example
Replace the percent (%) sign by a variable passed as an argument:
<?php
$number = 9;
$str = "Beijing";
$txt = sprintf("There are %u million bicycles in %s.",$number,$str);
echo $txt;
?>
Run example »
Definition and Usage
The sprintf() function writes a formatted string to a variable.
The arg1, arg2, ++ parameters will be inserted at percent (%) signs in the main string. This function works "step-by-step". At the first % sign, arg1 is inserted, at the second % sign, arg2 is inserted, etc.
Note: If there are more % signs than arguments, you must use placeholders. A placeholder is inserted after the % sign, and consists of the argument- number and "\$". See example two.
Tip: Related functions: printf(), vprintf(), vsprintf(), fprintf() and vfprintf()
Syntax
sprintf(format,arg1,arg2,arg++)
| Parameter | Description |
|---|---|
| format | Required. Specifies the string and how to format the variables in it. Possible format values:
Additional format values. These are placed between the % and the letter (example %.2f):
Note: If multiple additional format values are used, they must be in the same order as above. |
| arg1 | Required. The argument to be inserted at the first %-sign in the format string |
| arg2 | Optional. The argument to be inserted at the second %-sign in the format string |
| arg++ | Optional. The argument to be inserted at the third, fourth, etc. %-sign in the format string |
Technical Details
| Return Value: | Returns the formatted string |
|---|---|
| PHP Version: | 4+ |
More Examples
Example 1
Using the format value %f:
<?php
$number = 123;
$txt = sprintf("%f",$number);
echo $txt;
?>
Run example »
Example 2
Use of placeholders:
<?php
$number = 123;
$txt = sprintf("With 2 decimals: %1\$.2f
<br>With no decimals: %1\$u",$number);
echo $txt;
?>
Run example »
Example 3
A demonstration of all possible format values:
<?php
$num1 = 123456789;
$num2 = -123456789;
$char = 50; // The ASCII Character 50 is 2
// Note: The format value "%%" returns a percent sign
echo sprintf("%%b = %b",$num1)."<br>"; // Binary number
echo sprintf("%%c = %c",$char)."<br>"; // The ASCII Character
echo sprintf("%%d = %d",$num1)."<br>"; // Signed decimal number
echo sprintf("%%d = %d",$num2)."<br>"; // Signed decimal number
echo sprintf("%%e = %e",$num1)."<br>"; // Scientific notation (lowercase)
echo sprintf("%%E = %E",$num1)."<br>"; // Scientific notation (uppercase)
echo sprintf("%%u = %u",$num1)."<br>"; // Unsigned decimal number (positive)
echo sprintf("%%u = %u",$num2)."<br>"; // Unsigned decimal number (negative)
echo sprintf("%%f = %f",$num1)."<br>"; // Floating-point number (local settings aware)
echo sprintf("%%F = %F",$num1)."<br>"; // Floating-point number (not local sett aware)
echo sprintf("%%g = %g",$num1)."<br>"; // Shorter of %e and %f
echo sprintf("%%G = %G",$num1)."<br>"; // Shorter of %E and %f
echo sprintf("%%o = %o",$num1)."<br>"; // Octal number
echo sprintf("%%s = %s",$num1)."<br>"; // String
echo sprintf("%%x = %x",$num1)."<br>"; // Hexadecimal number (lowercase)
echo sprintf("%%X = %X",$num1)."<br>"; // Hexadecimal number (uppercase)
echo sprintf("%%+d = %+d",$num1)."<br>"; // Sign specifier (positive)
echo sprintf("%%+d = %+d",$num2)."<br>"; // Sign specifier (negative)
?>
Run example »
Example 4
A demonstration of string specifiers:
<?php
$str1 = "Hello";
$str2 = "Hello world!";
echo sprintf("[%s]",$str1)."<br>";
echo sprintf("[%8s]",$str1)."<br>";
echo sprintf("[%-8s]",$str1)."<br>";
echo sprintf("[%08s]",$str1)."<br>";
echo sprintf("[%'*8s]",$str1)."<br>";
echo sprintf("[%8.8s]",$str2)."<br>";
?>
Run example »
❮ PHP String Reference
