Master Python String Formatting: Complete Guide

What is String Formatting?

String formatting is also known as formatted string construction. It is an operation that consists of building a string containing variable information by inserting values into a predetermined string format or design. It allows dynamic string composition without the necessity of concatenating values manually.

If you have to print a person’s name and age. You may do it like this:

name = "Alice"
age = 30
print("Name: " + name + ", Age: " + str(age))

name = "Alice"
age = 30
print("Name: " + name + ", Age: " + str(age))

But honestly, that looks a bit clunky.

Now look at this version:

print(f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}")

print(f"Name: {name}, Age: {age}")

Much cleaner, right?

It’s not just for printing names and ages either. You can use it when you need to:

• Add numbers with decimal places
• Format dates neatly
• Align text in columns
• Pad values with zeros or spaces
• Or even make your output look like a table

Python gives us a few ways to do this:

• F-strings — these are my go-to. If you’re using Python 3.6 or later, they’re fast and super readable.
• .format() method — still useful, especially when you need a bit more control.
• % formatting — old-school, but you’ll still run into it in older codebases.
• And template strings — great when you’re working with user input and want to keep things safe.

At the end of the day, string formatting is all about making your output look clean and professional — without turning your code into a mess of quotes and plus signs.

Now let’s explore F-strings

F-strings — My Go-To Choice for String Formatting

If you’re using Python 3.6 or newer, f-strings (short for formatted string literals) will probably be your favorite method of string formatting. Personally, they’re my top choice — and the reasons why are good ones: they’re quick, readable, and compact.

Let’s understand why.

What Are f-strings?

An f-string is a string that starts with the character f or F, and you can insert Python expressions directly within the string with curly braces {}.

Rather than constructing strings by hand or with .format(), f-strings allow you to insert variables, function calls, or math inline — making the code much more readable and maintainable.

Why I Prefer f-strings

Here’s what makes f-strings my default choice in most projects:

1. Simplicity and Readability

You can clearly see where the variables are used — right inside the string.

name = "Alice"
age = 30
print(f"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

name = "Alice"
age = 30
print(f"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

Output:

My name is Alice and I am 30 years old.

My name is Alice and I am 30 years old.

There’s no guesswork, no juggling of positions, and no need to reference arguments by index or key. It’s exactly what you see.

2. Faster Performance

Internally, f-strings are compiled at runtime, which means they’re generally faster than .format() or % formatting. When you’re formatting strings inside loops or performance-sensitive code, this matters.

3. Supports Expressions

You’re not limited to variables. You can run any valid Python expression inside the {}.

x = 5
y = 3
print(f"The sum of {x} and {y} is {x + y}.")

x = 5
y = 3
print(f"The sum of {x} and {y} is {x + y}.")

Output:

The sum of 5 and 3 is 8.

The sum of 5 and 3 is 8.

This avoids creating temporary variables just to show a value.

4. Great for Formatting Numbers

You can apply number formatting, alignment, padding, and more — all directly inside the f-string.

price = 1234.567
print(f"Total: ${price:,.2f}")

price = 1234.567
print(f"Total: ${price:,.2f}")

Output:

Total: $1,234.57

Total: $1,234.57

Here:

• :, inserts a thousands separator
• .2f rounds to two decimal places

It’s concise and self-explaining.

5. Cleaner Than Alternatives

Compare the same output using different methods:

Using .format()

"Total: ${:,.2f}".format(price)

"Total: ${:,.2f}".format(price)

Using f-string

f"Total: ${price:,.2f}"

f"Total: ${price:,.2f}"

The f-string version is shorter, more direct, and easier to follow.

When Should You Use f-strings?

F-strings are ideal for:

• Logging and printing output
• Debugging variable values
• Reports, dashboards, or result summaries
• Whenever you need clean, readable, dynamic strings

As long as you’re working with Python 3.6 or later, they are generally the optimal choice for string formatting.

Limitations to Be Aware Of

Although f-strings are powerful, they do have some restrictions:

They don’t work with Python 2.x or versions prior to 3.6.

They execute expressions immediately — which is wonderful for power, but you need to be careful when working with untrusted data (e.g., in web development).

You can’t reuse a placeholder by name — you’d need to retype the same variable again if necessary multiple times.

Summary

F-strings are quick, readable, and expressive.
If you’re working with Python 3.6 or higher, they streamline your string formatting and make your code cleaner.

That’s why — for me and for many — f-strings are the first choice when dynamically constructing strings.

Now, Let’s have a look at the .format() method — how it works, when to use it, and why it can still be really useful, especially when you require structured and flexible string building.

.format() Method — A Detailed Explanation

What Is the .format() Method in Python?

The .format() method is a Python built-in string method that enables you to place values within a string with the use of placeholders expressed as curly braces {}.

Introduced in Python 2.7 and 3.0, it was originally designed to replace the older % formatting method and remains a widely used approach, especially in situations where:

• You need better control over formatting
• You want to use named variables
• If You’re working with dictionaries or dynamic content and
• You want the same placeholder reused multiple times

Basic Syntax

"template string with {} placeholders".format(values)

"template string with {} placeholders".format(values)

Every {} is replaced by an argument passed to the .format() method.

1. Positional Formatting (by order)

msg = "Hello, {}, you have {} new messages."
result = msg.format("Alice", 3)
print(result)

msg = "Hello, {}, you have {} new messages."
result = msg.format("Alice", 3)
print(result)

Output:

Hello, Alice, you have 3 new messages.

Hello, Alice, you have 3 new messages.

• The first {} receives “Alice”
• The second {} receives 3

You can also mention the position by name:

msg = "First: {0}, Second: {1}, Again First: {0}"
print(msg.format("X", "Y"))

msg = "First: {0}, Second: {1}, Again First: {0}"
print(msg.format("X", "Y"))

Output:

First: X, Second: Y, Again First: X

First: X, Second: Y, Again First: X

Here, {0} and {1} are argument positions.

2. Named Placeholders (Keyword Arguments)

This is one of .format()’s strongest features:

msg = "Name: {name}, Score: {score}"
print(msg.format(name="Bob", score=95))

msg = "Name: {name}, Score: {score}"
print(msg.format(name="Bob", score=95))

Output:

Name: Bob, Score: 95

Name: Bob, Score: 95

• This makes it easy to neatly specify what values go where.
• Very useful when working with lots of values or dynamically populated data.

3. Formatting Values (Numbers, Padding, Alignment)

Example: Floating-point precision

price = 1234.56789
msg = "Price: {:.2f}".format(price)
print(msg)

price = 1234.56789
msg = "Price: {:.2f}".format(price)
print(msg)

Output:

Price: 1234.57

Price: 1234.57

• :.2f formats the number with 2 decimal places

Example: Padding and Alignment

print("{:<10} | {:>5}".format("Item", 25))

print("{:<10} | {:>5}".format("Item", 25))

Output:

Item       |    25

Item       |    25

• <10 means left-align in a 10-character space
• >5 means right-align in a 5-character space

4. Using Dictionaries with .format()

If your data is stored in a dictionary, you can unpack it into the string:

info = {"name": "Emma", "marks": 91}
msg = "Student: {name}, Marks: {marks}"
print(msg.format(**info))

info = {"name": "Emma", "marks": 91}
msg = "Student: {name}, Marks: {marks}"
print(msg.format(**info))

Output:

Student: Emma, Marks: 91

Student: Emma, Marks: 91

The ** operator unpacks the dictionary into keyword arguments.

5. Reusing and Reordering Variables

You can repeat the same variable multiple times, or reorder them:

template = "Subject: {sub}, Marks: {marks}, {sub} is your favorite."
print(template.format(sub="Math", marks=95))

template = "Subject: {sub}, Marks: {marks}, {sub} is your favorite."
print(template.format(sub="Math", marks=95))

Output:

Subject: Math, Marks: 95, Math is your favorite.

Subject: Math, Marks: 95, Math is your favorite.

This is not possible with f-strings unless you store the value in a separate variable.

When Is .format() More Useful Than f-strings?

What is % formatting in Python?

Percent formatting is an older string formatting technique that utilizes the % operator to place values inside a string. You insert the format specifiers (such as %s, %.2f, etc.) within the string, and then use % followed by a tuple of the values you would like to place inside.

Even though it’s older, this technique is still compatible in contemporary Python.

Example Code:

language = "Python"
version = 3.11
message = "We are learning %s version %.2f" % (language, version)
print(message)

language = "Python"
version = 3.11
message = "We are learning %s version %.2f" % (language, version)
print(message)

Step-by-Step Breakdown:

1. Format String:

"We are learning %s version %.2f"

"We are learning %s version %.2f"

This is the template string. It has two placeholders:

• %s: for a string
• %.2f: for a floating-point number, rounded to 2 decimal places

2. Variables:

language = "Python"
version = 3.11

language = "Python"
version = 3.11

• language is a string
• version is a float

3. Substitution using %:

% (language, version)

% (language, version)

• The values are put in a tuple, in the same order as the placeholders in the string.
• Python substitutes %s with “Python”.
• It substitutes %.2f with the number 3.11, rounded to two decimal places

4. Final Output:

We are learning Python version 3.11

We are learning Python version 3.11

Understanding the Format Specifiers

Another Example:

name = "Alice"
marks = 88.6789
result = "Student: %s | Marks: %.1f" % (name, marks)
print(result)

name = "Alice"
marks = 88.6789
result = "Student: %s | Marks: %.1f" % (name, marks)
print(result)

Output:

Student: Alice | Marks: 88.7

Student: Alice | Marks: 88.7

• %s → inserts the string Alice
• %.1f → inserts the float 88.6789 rounded to 1 decimal place

Summary

• Percent formatting is simple and still works in Python.
• It’s less flexible than str.format() and f-strings, especially with multiple values or complex formatting.
• Still useful for quick tasks or when working with older code.

What Are Template Strings?

Template strings are one method of string creation that involves variables. They are from the string module in Python. Rather than using {} like f-strings or .format(), you use a dollar sign and a variable name as follows:

from string import Template

t = Template("Hello, $name!")
print(t.substitute(name="Alice"))

from string import Template

t = Template("Hello, $name!")
print(t.substitute(name="Alice"))

Output:

Hello, Alice!

Hello, Alice!

Why Use Template Strings?

1. Safer When Handling User Input

When you let users input data (e.g., completing a form or typing into a chat box), you can’t always be sure what they’ll type. If you use f-strings or .format() on that input directly, and you’re not paying attention, it could lead to issues — such as running unwanted code.

Template Strings circumvent this threat by handling all user input as plain text. They do not attempt to execute it, compute it, or interpret it as a command.

Example:

from string import Template

user_input = "__import__('os').system('rm -rf /')"  # harmful input
template = Template("User typed: $text")
print(template.substitute(text=user_input))

from string import Template

user_input = "__import__('os').system('rm -rf /')"  # harmful input
template = Template("User typed: $text")
print(template.substitute(text=user_input))

Output:

User typed: __import__('os').system('rm -rf /')

User typed: __import__('os').system('rm -rf /')

It simply prints the text — it does not execute any commands.

How Template Strings Work

1. You define a string and pass variables with a dollar sign in front of them, such as $name.
2. You pass in the values using substitute().

Example:

from string import Template

message = Template("Welcome, $user! You have $messages new messages.")
print(message.substitute(user="Tom", messages="3"))

from string import Template

message = Template("Welcome, $user! You have $messages new messages.")
print(message.substitute(user="Tom", messages="3"))

Output:

Welcome, Tom! You have 3 new messages.

Welcome, Tom! You have 3 new messages.

What If You Forget a Variable?

In case you forget to supply one of the variables, substitute() will throw an error. To prevent that, use safe_substitute() — it will keep the missing variable intact.

t = Template("Hello, $name! Your score is $score")
print(t.safe_substitute(name="John"))

t = Template("Hello, $name! Your score is $score")
print(t.safe_substitute(name="John"))

Output:

Hello, John! Your score is $score

Hello, John! Your score is $score

Escaping the Dollar Sign

If you need to display a dollar sign (say, $100), use two dollar signs $.

t = Template("Price: $$${amount}")
print(t.substitute(amount="25"))

t = Template("Price: $$${amount}")
print(t.substitute(amount="25"))

Output:

Price: $25

Price: $25

When Should You Use Template Strings?

• When working with user input
• When creating email templates, SMS messages, or reports
• If you need to prevent errors due to unknown or unsafe input you can use template strings
• When you require simple and readable formatting

Summary

Template Strings:

• Are defined using the Template class of the string module
• Use $variable rather than {} or %s
• Don’t execute any code, which makes them safe
• Are excellent when you don’t want unanticipated behavior from user input

String Formatting Examples – Quick Review

# string_formatting_examples.py

# Example 1: Using f-strings
name = "Alice"
age = 25
print(f"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

# Example 2: Using str.format()
price = 49.99
print("The price of this item is ${:.2f}".format(price))

# Example 3: Using % operator
language = "Python"
version = 3.11
print("I am learning %s version %.1f" % (language, version))

# Example 4: Aligning text
print("{:<10} | {:^10} | {:>10}".format("Left", "Center", "Right"))

# Example 5: Padding numbers
for i in range(1, 6):
    print(f"Number: {i:03}")

# string_formatting_examples.py

# Example 1: Using f-strings
name = "Alice"
age = 25
print(f"My name is {name} and I am {age} years old.")

# Example 2: Using str.format()
price = 49.99
print("The price of this item is ${:.2f}".format(price))

# Example 3: Using % operator
language = "Python"
version = 3.11
print("I am learning %s version %.1f" % (language, version))

# Example 4: Aligning text
print("{:<10} | {:^10} | {:>10}".format("Left", "Center", "Right"))

# Example 5: Padding numbers
for i in range(1, 6):
    print(f"Number: {i:03}")

Conclusion

Python’s string formatting has come a long way since its development. Although all four approaches are acceptable, f-strings are the new, Pythonic way to do string formatting. They provide the optimal balance of readability, performance, and features.

Key takeaways:

• Use f-strings for new Python 3.6+ projects
• Use .format() when you need template reusability or backward compatibility
• You can use % formatting sparingly, mainly for legacy code maintenance
• Master format specifiers to create professional-looking output
• Consider security implications when formatting user input

Practice these techniques in your own projects, and you’ll soon find yourself creating beautifully formatted strings with ease!