Reference: printf
Author: Daniel Gilly & the Staff of O'Reilly & Associates
Date: 1998-08-06T21:54:23Z

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| Chapter 2 UNIX Commands |

## printf

    printf formats [strings]

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 below.

### Arguments

%s

  Print the next `string`.

%`n`$s

  Print the `n`th `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

Reference: printenv |  | Reference: prof