printf and escapes
- C course
- Beginner
- Lesson 5/116
- 4 min
Learn formatted output with printf and escape sequences.
printf and format specifiers
The printf function writes formatted text to the screen. Format specifiers tell how to print variables:
%d: integer%f: floating-point number%s: string%c: character
Escape sequences represent special characters: \n new line, \t tab, \\ backslash.
Multiple specifiers
You can print multiple variables in a single printf call. The order of specifiers must match the order of arguments:
int age = 25;
double height = 1.75;
printf("Age: %d, Height: %f", age, height);Output: Age: 25, Height: 1.750000
The number of specifiers must match the number of arguments; otherwise undefined behavior occurs.
Practice Write formatted output
Print int n = 5; as Result: 5 using printf. Use the %d specifier.
Starter code
// print Result: 5 with printfSample solution
#include <stdio.h>
int main(void) {
int n = 5;
printf("Result: %d", n);
return 0;
}Expected output
Result: 5
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 What does \n mean?
- Tab space
- New line Correct answer
- Backspace
- Quote mark
Explanation: \n means new line; it moves the cursor to the next line.
2 Integer specifier
printf("Result: ____", 5);printf("Result: %d", 5);Explanation: %d is the specifier used for integers.
3 What does printf("%d %d", a, b); print?
- Only b is printed
- Only a is printed
- Two integers separated by space Correct answer
- It errors out
Explanation: %d %d prints two integers separated by a space.