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![john knight](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/8098192/micro_John_Knight.jpg)
john knight
Courses Plus Student 9,155 Points2 Questions
Q1: what does the {%} mean in python || Q2: what does the [.Format] mean and do
3 Answers
![rydavim](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/1857952/micro_scarabTattoo.jpg)
rydavim
18,814 PointsThe .format
function helps you format strings (text). The most common use case would be positional formatting. Basically, it lets you build strings with initially unknown values.
# Here you start building a string, but you don't know the user's name or number inputs yet.
# .format allows you to insert these values, given by the user.
# You want to print "Hey (name)! (\n = new line) The number (number)..."
print("Hey {}!\nThe number {}...".format(name, number))
# Example:
# Hey john knight!
# The number 10...
The %
symbol is a modulo operator. It returns the remainder of a division operation. In this case, you're using it to determine if a number is "fizz" (divisible by 3) or "buzz" (divisible by 5). Using the example above (10), it would look something like...
# Is 10 (number) divisible by 3?
is_fizz = number % 3 == 0
# 10 % 3 = 1 (remainder), so 10 is not a "fizz" number (False).
# Is 10 (number) divisible by 5?
is_buzz = number % 5 == 0
# 10 % 5 = 0 (no remainder), so 10 is a "buzz" number (True).
Hopefully that helps, but comment below if anything remains unclear. Keep up the good work!
![john knight](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/8098192/micro_John_Knight.jpg)
john knight
Courses Plus Student 9,155 PointsSo is there a difference if I use comma concatenation or the + symbol to add strings + a variable?
Also thank you for your responses it helped me lots!, Have a good day :D
![rydavim](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/1857952/micro_scarabTattoo.jpg)
rydavim
18,814 PointsSo...that's actually kind of a tricky question. In terms of the end result of a simple use case, no there's no practical difference. But behind the scenes, or as your strings get more complicated, there are certainly advantages to using .format
.
x = "hello"
y = "world"
# Using commas (old) to print strings and variables.
# This won't work in newer versions of python, so it's commented out.
# print "Print:",
# print x,
# print y
# Output - Print: hello world (Python 2)
# Using string concatenation to construct and print a string with variables.
# NOTE: This creates the strings, then combines them together - which may not be memory-friendly in some cases.
print("Print: " + x + " " + y)
# Output - Print: hello world
# Using the format function to print strings with variables.
print("Print: {} {}".format(x, y))
# Output - Print: hello world
I would probably recommend using .format
for anything more complicated than a couple of lines or variables. Python isn't my strongest language yet, so hopefully that made sense. :)
![john knight](https://uploads.teamtreehouse.com/production/profile-photos/8098192/micro_John_Knight.jpg)
john knight
Courses Plus Student 9,155 PointsThank you very much. You just my day great! thank you.