Linux in a Nutshell, 6th Edition

Name

printf

Synopsis

printf formats [strings]
printf option

Print strings using the specified formats. formats can be ordinary text characters, C-language escape characters, C format specifications ending with one of the letters diouxXfeEgGcs or, more commonly, a set of conversion arguments listed here.

Options

--help

Print usage information and exit.

--version

Print version information and exit.

Arguments

%%

Print a single %.

%b

Print string with \ escapes interpreted.

%s

Print the next string.

%n$s

Print the nth string.

%[-]m[.n]s

Print the next string, using a field that is m characters wide. Optionally, limit the field to print only the first n characters of string. Strings are right-adjusted unless the left-adjustment flag, -, is specified.

Examples

printf '%s %s\n' "My files are in" $HOME
printf '%-25.15s %s\n' "My files are in" $HOME