# printf function

printf is used to O/P data to STDOUT (usually the screen). It has many formatting options which we shall look at in a moment.

## printf syntax

This is an example of printf in its simplest form.

      #include <stdio.h>

      main()
      {
        printf("This text will appear on the screen\n");
      }

printf is passed one formatting argument. The unusual thing about the example (in my mind) is \n, this is actually an escape sequence that signals a new line. Without it, any printf's that follow would O/P to the same line. printf also takes extra arguments which are inserted into the format string at locations marked with a %.

      #include <stdio.h>

      main()
      {
        int number=42;
        printf("The answer is %i\n", number);
      }

What happens here is the %i is seen as a formatting identifer for the next argument (number). In this case an integer is expected.

## See also

1. puts Much easier to use - but not as powerfull.
2. sprintf Same as 'printf' but O/P to a string array.
3. Strings.
4. A dead handy printf idiom..

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