What is string formatting in python?- A Beginner's Guide

Python is becoming increasingly important throughout the world. Whether it's a standard IT profession or an advanced data scientist career, Python remains the undisputed leader. String formatting is a skill that must be mastered when it comes to proficient coding.

String writing usually has a fluid flow. Even beginners enjoy this motion. However, formatting the same becomes a source of worry. But did you know that string formatting may also be enjoyable? Yes, after you master the proper process, you will begin to enjoy it.

In this article, I will discuss the basics of string formatting in python. So let’s first peep a bit into the formal definition of the same.?

What does string formatting mean in Python?

String formatting is the process of inserting a variable in predefined text. It is an important feature in a programming language. In simple text, it is inserting user-defined values or words in the place of strings. For formatting, a Strings in Python ‘.format()’ method is used as it is a versatile and powerful tool for formatting. Format method in String contains curly braces ‘{}’ which are ‘placeholders’ and can hold ‘arguments’ depending on the position and keyword to specify the order.

?Benefits of .format() method in Python

• You can insert variables by index-based position
• You can insert variables by assigning keywords
• You can use the same variable to avoid duplicates
• You can increase or decrease floating points

?Now let us see a few examples of how to use ‘.format()’

?Index-based position

Example:print('{2} {1} {0}'.format('good', 'is', 'Python'))

Output

Python is good

Assigning key-words

? Example:print('a: {a}, b: {b}, c: {c}'.format(a = 10, b = 'Twenty-Two', c = 162.48))

Output

a: 10, b: Twenty-two, c: 162.48

Assigning the same variable to avoid duplicate

? Example:print('The first {p} was alright, but the {p} {p} was not correct.'.format(p= 'letter'))

Output

The first letter was alright, but the letter letter was not correct.

Increase or decrease Floating points.

Example:print("Floating point {0:.2f}".format(345.7916732))

Output

Floating point 345.79

Here ‘2’ represents the decimal number and ‘f’ represents the floating-point.

As you can see from the above examples there are two ways of passing the contents

• The variables, integers, and float have to be passed in the .format() method in the same order in which they were used in the string.
• The other way is, that it’s not necessary to pass all the variables in the same order.

F-strings are the simplest and most efficient way to do string formatting. It is also called formatting string literals. Here the literal ‘f’ is used at the beginning of the string to treat it as a formatted string.

?

Take away

String Formatting is a frequently used task and the way it is presented in f-strings makes it very easy for all to work with python. f-string is the most preferred and used in formatting strings as it is very easy to write and maintain. So it is recommended to use formatting strings to ease and develop coding skills.?

I hope the info provided above will help you kickstart with ‘string formatting.’ If you are searching for a resource to learn python in detail for data science applications, you can check out the data science course with special python-support. In case you are just exploring python as a beginner, follow us on Facebook, Youtube, Linkedin, and Twitter