What is the problem with "println" when using Maps?

Question

So as I work along with Craig, I got to the point where we print how many times has each hash tag been used. He used the "printf" command and I figured he'll be using the %n so I went ahead and used "println" instead so I wouldn't write the special symbol (not that I care, I just thought I'll do it that way). And boom and error - said that "no suitable method found for println(String,Map)" So I changed it back to "printf" and the %n and it worked just fine. So I was wondering what's the problem and which of the two commands is used more and "is better". Would appreciate some input @Craig Dennis (https://teamtreehouse.com/craigsdennis)

jrabello · Accepted Answer

I have no strong java background but I can tell you something about printf
printf function comes originally from C language, and has the following prototype:
 
int printf ( const char * format, ... );

That means that printf expects as the first argument an string that is parsed, so you know how many arguments to expect, example:
 printf("%s",myString);
printf("%s %s",myString,myString2);
printf("%s %s %d",myString,myString2,mySingedInteger);

Craig Dennis · Answer

As @jrabello (https://teamtreehouse.com/jrabello) stated, println doesn't allow substitution as it just takes one parameter.  Use printf when you are printing formatted text.
Make sense?

Michael Acosta Pegoraro · Answer

This means that printf cannot take methods/functions inside the parameter and println can right? or I'm wrong?

Kristian Terziev · Answer

Thanks you both for the answers. I understand it now :smile:

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Kristian Terziev

Kristian Terziev

What is the problem with "println" when using Maps?

4 Answers

jrabello

jrabello

Craig Dennis

Craig Dennis

Kristian Terziev

Kristian Terziev

Michael Acosta Pegoraro

Michael Acosta Pegoraro