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 nth 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