The `%s` symbol in a Python format string serves as a placeholder for string values. When creating a string that requires the insertion of specific values at certain positions, `%s` is used to indicate where a string should be inserted.
To use it, you place `%s` within the string at the desired location, then provide the string values you want to insert separately. When the code is executed, Python replaces `%s` with the corresponding string value.
This mechanism allows for dynamic and flexible string creation, especially useful in scenarios where the content of the string needs to change based on different variables or inputs.