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# printf

Perl 5 version 16.0 documentation
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# printf

Perl functions A-Z | Perl functions by category | The 'perlfunc' manpage

- printf FILEHANDLE FORMAT, LIST

- printf FILEHANDLE
- printf FORMAT, LIST
- printf

  Equivalent to `print FILEHANDLE sprintf(FORMAT, LIST)` , except that `$\` (the output record separator) is not appended. The first argument of the list will be interpreted as the `printf` format. See sprintf for an explanation of the format argument. If you omit the LIST, `$_` is used; to use FILEHANDLE without a LIST, you must use a real filehandle like `FH` , not an indirect one like `$fh` . If `use locale` (including `use locale ':not_characters'` ) is in effect and POSIX::setlocale() has been called, the character used for the decimal separator in formatted floating-point numbers is affected by the LC_NUMERIC locale setting. See perllocale and POSIX.

  Don't fall into the trap of using a `printf` when a simple `print` would do. The `print` is more efficient and less error prone.