PHP String Formatting

Ever wanted to control how numbers, dates, and text appear in PHP? **String formatting** lets you style text like a pro! 🕶️ Whether you want to format currency, align text, or control decimals, PHP has got you covered.

🔹 Formatting Strings with printf()

The printf() function formats and prints text using placeholders.

<?php
$name = "Alice";
$age = 25;

printf("My name is %s and I am %d years old.", $name, $age);
?>

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Output: My name is Alice and I am 25 years old.

Here:

  • %s → Replaced with a string ($name).
  • %d → Replaced with an integer ($age).

🔹 Storing Formatted Strings with sprintf()

Want to **store** formatted text instead of printing it? Use sprintf().

<?php
$price = 49.99;
$formatted_price = sprintf("Price: $%.2f", $price);

echo $formatted_price;
?>

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Output: Price: $49.99

Why sprintf()? Unlike printf(), it **doesn’t print** immediately—it returns a formatted string instead.

🔹 Formatting Numbers with number_format()

Need to format big numbers with commas? Use number_format()!

<?php
$big_number = 1234567.8910;

echo number_format($big_number, 2);
?>

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Output: 1,234,567.89

Parameters:

  • First argument → The number to format.
  • Second argument → Number of decimal places.

🔹 Formatting Strings with Padding

Want text to align neatly? Use printf() with padding.

<?php
printf("|%-10s|%-5d|", "Item", 100);
?>

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Output: |Item |100 | (Left-aligned text, fixed width!)

🎯 Key Takeaways

  • printf() → Formats and prints strings.
  • sprintf() → Formats strings and stores them.
  • number_format() → Formats large numbers with commas.

📝 Practice Time!

Try formatting your own numbers, prices, and text! Maybe format your bank balance to look richer than it is! 💰😂