To format numeric values in a format string, you can use the built-in string formatting syntax in your programming language. The syntax varies slightly depending on the language, but the basic concept is the same.
Here are some examples in Python:
- Format a float value to two decimal places:
num = 3.14159
formatted = "{:.2f}".format(num)
print(formatted) # Output: 3.14
- Format an integer value with a minimum width of 5 digits:
num = 42
formatted = "{:5d}".format(num)
print(formatted) # Output: 42
- Format a float value with a minimum width of 8 digits, including 3 decimal places:
num = 3.14
formatted = "{:8.3f}".format(num)
print(formatted) # Output: 3.140
In each example, the format string uses curly braces {} as placeholders for the value to be formatted, and includes formatting instructions inside the braces. The colon : separates the placeholder from the formatting instructions.
The specific formatting instructions used in each example (.2f, 5d, 8.3f) determine the precision, width, and other formatting details of the output. Consult the documentation for your programming language to learn about the available formatting options.
