char *format; converts, formats, and prints its arguments after the first under control of the first argument. The first argument is a character string which contains two types of objects: plain characters, which are simply copied to the output stream, and conversion specifications, each of which causes conversion and printing of the next successive argument to Each conversion specification is introduced by the character %. Following the %, there may be

an optional minus sign ‘‘’’ which specifies of the converted argument in the indicated field;

an optional digit string specifying a if the converted argument has fewer characters than the field width it will be blank-padded on the left (or right, if the left-adjustment indicator has been given) to make up the field width;

an optional period ‘‘.’’ which serves to separate the field width from the next digit string;

an optional digit string which specifies the number of digits to appear after the decimal point, for e- and f-conversion, or the maximum number of characters to be printed from a string;

a character which indicates the type of conversion to be applied. The conversion characters and their meanings are d o x

The integer argument is converted to decimal, octal, or hexadecimal notation respectively. f

The argument is converted to decimal notation in the style ‘‘[]ddd.ddd’’ where the number of d’s after the decimal point is equal to the precision specification for the argument. If the precision is missing, 6 digits are given; if the precision is explicitly 0, no digits and no decimal point are printed. The argument should be or e

The argument is converted in the style ‘‘[]d.ddde±dd’’ where there is one digit before the decimal point and the number after is equal to the precision specification for the argument; when the precision is missing, 6 digits are produced. The argument should be a or quantity. c

The argument character is printed. s

The argument is taken to be a string (character pointer) and characters from the string are printed until a null character or until the number of characters indicated by the precision specification is reached; however if the precision is 0 or missing all characters up to a null are printed. l

The argument is taken to be an unsigned integer which is converted to decimal and printed (the result will be in the range 0 to 65535). If no recognizable character appears after the %, that character is printed; thus % may be printed by use of the string %%. In no case does a non-existent or small field width cause truncation of a field; padding takes place only if the specified field width exceeds the actual width. Characters generated by are printed by calling putchar (III) Very wide fields (>128 characters) fail.