formatstring

noun

UK /ˈfɔː.mæt ˌstrɪŋ/

US /ˈfɔːr.mæt ˌstrɪŋ/

A format string is a special piece of text that tells a computer how to put words and numbers together.

The programmer used a format string to add the player's name into the message.

SYNONYMS

template string pattern string format specifier placeholder text

RELATED WORDS

printf string formatting placeholder variable output

OTHER MEANINGS

2. In C programming, a string passed to functions like printf that contains conversion specifications starting with a percent sign.

The format string "%d items" prints a number followed by the word items.

3. A string used in Python's str.format method with curly-brace placeholders.

She wrote "Hello, {}!" as a format string and filled in the name later.

4. A text pattern in logging or localization systems that gets filled with values at runtime.

The error log used a format string to insert the timestamp and error code.