Linux in a Nutshell, Third Edition

Name

printf

Synopsis

printf formats [strings]

Description

Print strings using the specified formats. formats can be ordinary text characters, C-language escape characters, or more commonly, a set of conversion arguments listed here.

Arguments

%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