In Python, output formatting allows you to display data in a clean, organized, and readable manner. Below are the main methods and techniques for formatting output in Python:
1. Using f-strings (Python 3.6+)
F-strings are a concise and efficient way to format strings. They use curly braces {} to embed expressions directly in the string.
Output:
My name is Alice and I am 25 years old.
You can also format numbers:
Output:
The value of pi is approximately 3.14.
2. Using str.format()
The str.format() method allows you to format strings by placing placeholders {} in the text.
Output:
My name is Alice and I am 25 years old.
With positional or keyword arguments:
3. Using the % Operator
This is an older method for string formatting using placeholders like %s, %d, or %f.
Output:
My name is Alice and I am 25 years old.
For floating-point precision:
4. Using format() for Alignment and Padding
You can control alignment and width in output:
Output:
5. Using tabulate for Tabular Data (Optional Library)
For structured tabular output, the tabulate library is helpful.
6. Using pprint for Pretty-Printing Data Structures
The pprint module is useful for printing nested data structures.
Choose the method that best fits your task! For most modern use cases, f-strings are the recommended approach due to their clarity and performance.