format()

String

Formats a value according to a format specification string.

Signature

format(value, format_spec)

Returns

str

Example

print(format(3.14159, '.2f'))   # '3.14'
print(format(1000000, ','))     # '1,000,000'
print(format(255, '08b'))       # '11111111'

About format()

format is a Python string function with the signature format(value, format_spec). Formats a value according to a format specification string. It returns a value of type str.

Python provides a rich set of built-in functions and standard library modules that cover common programming tasks. Understanding these functions helps you write more idiomatic, efficient Python code. The formatfunction is commonly used in data processing, web development, scripting, and automation tasks.

When working with format(), consider edge cases like empty inputs, None values, and type mismatches. Python's duck typing means many built-in functions work with any object that implements the required protocol (e.g., __len__ for len(), __iter__ for iteration). This flexibility is a key strength of Python's design philosophy.

Related Functions

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