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format-function-features

---
id: format-function-features
title: Displaying Integers with the format() Function
description: How to display integer and floating-point data in various formats using the format() function
tags:
  - format function
  - string formatting
  - Python
  - programming
sidebar_position: 3
isPublic: false
---

# Displaying Integers with the format() Function

Using the `format()` function, you can output strings in various formats.

This process is known as `formatting`, and it involves using a colon `:` inside the curly braces `{ }` to specify how the data should be displayed.
<br />

```python title="Example of using the format() function"
"{:format_option}".format(value)

  • { } : Placeholder indicating where to insert the value

  • : : Specifies format options


Displaying Integers​

To output integers, use {:d} by placing the letter d to the right of the colon inside the curly braces.

Integer output formatting example
number = 123

# Integer output
formatted = "number: {:d}".format(number)
print(formatted)  # "number: 123"

If you omit d, Python will automatically apply the appropriate format based on the value's data type.

Automatic type specification formatting example
number = 123

# Integer output
formatted = "number: {}".format(number)
print(formatted)  # "number: 123"

Specifying Output Width​

Using a number to the right of the colon specifies the width of the resulting string.

For instance, {:5} sets the width of the output string to 5.

Integer output formatting example
number = 123
formatted = "number: {:5}".format(number) # Set width to 5

# Inserts 2 spaces before 123
print(formatted)  # "number:   123",

To pad the width with zeros, prefix the width value with a 0.

Integer output formatting example
number = 123
formatted = "number: {:05}".format(number) # Set width to 5

# Inserts 2 zeros before 123
print(formatted)  # "number: 00123"

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