printf() Function in C Programming
printf() function in C programming and how to use printf() function in C language
printf() is a standard library function that is used to display the output on the screen.
- printf() function is inbuilt library function.
- printf() function is define within C library’s “stdio.h” header file.
- To use printf() function, must include stdio.h header file in C program.
- Data Types defines the type of value that can be stored in reserve block/location.
- printf() function is case-sensitive i.e. printf() is different than Printf(), infact C is a case-sensitive programming language.
printf() Function Looks Like
For better understanding, we can use printf() function in two ways
- printf() function without variables/values.
- printf() function with variables/values.
printf() function without variables/values
This scenario of printf() function is used to print simple/general message as output in C programming, see below syntax and examples.
Syntax
printf(“Type your message here”);
Examples
Output
This message from printf function
---------------------------------
This is message 1
This is message 2
Both above two line are from same printf fuction
This is last message
Newline Character (\n)
\n is used for new link in output. All text/content after \n will appear in next line.
Placeholder
Placeholder is used to insert a value/variable value in a message in printf() function, the below table contains the type of value and placeholder representation.
| Data Types |
Placeholder Representation |
| int |
%d |
| char |
%c |
| float |
%f |
| double |
%lf |
| string |
%s |
| octal |
%o |
| hexadecimal |
%x |
printf() function with variables/values
This scenario of printf() function is used to print a message along with some value stored in variables. We use placeholder representation to insert the value of the variable in the message. Let's understand with an example.
Syntax
printf(“Message with list of placeholder symbol”, vaiable1, variable2, vaiable3,....);
Example 1
Output
Rules/Explanation:
- In the above example a, b and sum are variables.
- All three %d is called as a placeholder.
- %d symbols are replaced by int type values.
- variable order matters for example [ a,b,sum ---> 10,20,30 ] and [ a,sum,b ---> 10, 30, 20 ]
- Placeholder representation symbol and variable data type must match and order should be correct.
Example 2
Output
A 20 73.56
-------------------------
Name=A Age=20 Marks=73.56
-------------------------
Name=A
Age=20
Marks=73.56
Note: At the place of variables, you can directly pass values in printf() function. See the below example.
Output
Mr. A age is 20 years and his salary is 35800.75