str.format
- Python course
- Beginner
- Lesson 32/116
- 4 min
Learn formatting with str.format().
The str.format method
Before f-strings, str.format was used. You still see it in some code:
name = "Alex"
print("Hello {}".format(name)) # Hello Alex{} is a placeholder; .format() fills them in order. Multiple placeholders are supported: "{} and {}".format("a", "b").
Modern code prefers f-strings; but knowing str.format is needed to read older code.
str.format vs f-string
Both methods do the same job, but f-strings are shorter:
# str.format
"Hello {}".format(name)
# f-string
f"Hello {name}"f-strings are more readable and faster. Use f-strings in new code. Knowing str.format is enough for reading old code.
f-strings have been standard since Python 3.6 and are preferred in almost all modern code.
f-strings have been standard since Python 3.6 and are preferred in almost all modern code.
f-strings have been standard since Python 3.6 and are preferred in almost all modern code.
f-strings have been standard since Python 3.6 and are preferred in almost all modern code.
f-strings have been standard since Python 3.6 and are preferred in almost all modern code.
Practice Print str.format
Assign name = "Alex". Print print("Hello {}".format(name)).
Starter code
# Use str.formatSample solution
name = "Alex"
print("Hello {}".format(name))Expected output
Hello Alex
Questions and answers
Review the lesson questions together with their answers. To test yourself, solve the lesson interactively.
1 What does "{} and {}".format("a", "b") produce?
- a and {}
- {} and {}
- a and b Correct answer
- It raises an error
Explanation: .format() fills placeholders in order.
2 Write the placeholder
print("Hello ____".format("Alex"))print("Hello {}".format("Alex"))Explanation: {} is the placeholder, filled by .format.
3 Match the methods
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
f-string |
Modern method |
str.format |
Older method |
{} |
Placeholder |
.format() |
Fill call |