---
syntax: markdown
tags: [tldr, common]
source: https://github.com/tldr-pages/tldr.git
---
# printf

> Format and print text.
> See also: `echo`.
> More information: <https://www.gnu.org/software/coreutils/manual/html_node/printf-invocation.html>.

- Print a text message:

`printf "{{%s
}}" "{{Hello world}}"`

- Print an integer in bold blue:

`printf "{{[1;34m%.3d[0m
}}" {{42}}`

- Print a float number with the Unicode Euro sign:

`printf "{{€ %.2f
}}" {{123.4}}`

- Print a text message composed with environment variables:

`printf "{{var1: %s	var2: %s
}}" "{{$VAR1}}" "{{$VAR2}}"`

- Store a formatted message in a variable (does not work on Zsh):

`printf -v {{myvar}} {{"This is %s = %d
" "a year" 2016}}`

- Print a hexadecimal, octal and scientific number:

`printf "{{hex=%x octal=%o scientific=%e}}" 0x{{FF}} 0{{377}} {{100000}}`
