The php Function Sprintf
The php function sprintf allows you to format strings with placeholders that will be replaced with actual values at runtime. It can be used to do everything from formatting dates to displaying prices with the correct currency symbol and decimal places. Mastering the syntax and format specifiers of sprintf is essential for a well-rounded PHP developer. This article will introduce you to the basics of this powerful string formatting function, and give you the tools to tackle any formatting challenge that comes your way.
The sprintf function is similar to printf(), except that it formats its arguments and saves them into a variable rather than printing them on the screen like printf() does. It is supported by PHP versions 4 and above. The syntax of sprintf is as follows:
Format specification:
%:
The format specification is a special character that indicates how the argument should be formatted, and how many decimal places to leave at the end of the number. It can also specify to insert spaces at the end of the number if it is short.
:
The argument is inserted at the position of the first conversion specification in the format specification. If there are more than one conversion specifications, each is applied to the argument in turn. For example, %d: