println is used when you want to create a new line with just simple text or even text containing concatenation. ("Hello " + "World" = "Hello World.")
printf is used when you want to format your string. This will clean up any concatenation. For a simple example -> ("Hello, " + username + "! How are you?") could easily be cleaned up a bit by using ("Hello, %s! How are you?", username). It's up to you really when you want to use this.
I would definitely recommend it if you are using multiple variables. In that case you would use multiple conversions in your string. Please feel free to read up on the Formatter Documentation (https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/Formatter.html) as it will help you understand it better and it provides a full list of available conversion characters. Answer from Brendon Butler on teamtreehouse.com
Quora
quora.com › What-is-the-difference-between-printf-and-system-out-println-in-programming-languages-What-is-the-meaning-of-system-out-println
What is the difference between printf() and system.out.println() in programming languages? What is the meaning of system.out.println? - Quora
Answer (1 of 3): I’ll explain you in terms of Java as it contains both the methods The difference in println() and printf () statements is the flexibility in formatting the output, printf() statement provides more control over how the output is formatted (true in case of C programming too).
Reddit
reddit.com › r/java › trying to understand system.out.printf
r/java on Reddit: Trying to understand System.out.printf
October 23, 2013 -
What are the arguments you can use for it? How is it used? How does it differ from other print methods. Looks like there might different operators it uses to. I'm new so excuse my ignorance. :)
Top answer 1 of 2
4
http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/Formatter.html http://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/io/PrintStream.html#printf%28java.lang.String,%20java.lang.Object...%29
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double PI = 3.1415; System.out.println(PI); double PI2 = 3.1415 System.out.printf("%1.2f", PI2); First one will print 3.1415 Second one will print 3.14 printf is like print but with formatting options. The %1.2f is so that you have 1 digit to the left of decimal point and 2 digits to the right. f converts the number into floating point number. Don't forget the comma after "%1.2f"
What does formatted output mean in java? In what situations is printf used? Jan 10, 2022
r/learnjava 4y ago
Why do we not import `System.out.println` to and avoid rerwriting it every time we print something to the console ? Dec 14, 2018
r/javahelp 7y ago
Difference between system.out.printf and system.out.println
Eric Chan is having issues with: I know this video is not about System.out, but I have been wondering what the difference between .printf and .println is. Can someone h... More on teamtreehouse.com
2
December 21, 2015java - What does System.out.printf( "%-15sd\n", s1, x) do? - Stack Overflow
"%-15s" means that within 15 blank space, the String "s1" will be filled in the left. (fill in the blanks from the left) "d" means that within 3 0s, the integer"x" will be filled in the right.(fill in the zeros from the right). This can only be done by using printf method. More on stackoverflow.com
System.out.printf - Oracle Forums
For appeals, questions and feedback about Oracle Forums, please email oracle-forums-moderators_us@oracle.com. Technical questions should be asked in the appropriate category. Thank you More on forums.oracle.com
what is difference between "System.out.printf" and "console.printf"?
hangyul lee is having issues with: can you explain it in a very easy way? More on teamtreehouse.com
2
February 19, 2018Videos
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PRINT colorido | GUIA COMPLETO de saída de dados em Java | ...
Medium
medium.com › @kalpana.p_65621 › system-out-printf-in-java-a23690d66f97
System.out.printf() in JAVA. In Java 5.0 and higher versions, the… | by Kalpana P | Medium
January 30, 2025 - In Java 5.0 and higher versions, the System.out.printf() method has been introduced for formatted output, and this method is associated with the java.io.PrintStream. It allows us to control how data is being displayed on the console.
Medium
naveenautomationlabs.medium.com › mastering-system-out-printf-in-java-dcab1af7dd27
Mastering System.out.printf() in Java | by Naveen AutomationLabs | Medium
April 26, 2025 - The printf() method (short for "print formatted") is borrowed from the C programming language and provides a way to format text output with placeholders. It follows this basic syntax: ... Format specifiers begin with a percent sign (%) and define ...
Augustana University
lovelace.augustana.edu › q2a › index.php › 788 › what-is-system-out-printf-mean
What is System.out.printf() mean? - Augustana CSC Q&A
January 14, 2019 - String class format( ) method: You can build a formatted String and assign it to a variable using the static format method in the String class · System.out.printf means that it is a print format the f stands for format
W3Schools
w3schools.com › java › ref_output_printf.asp
Java Output printf() Method
The printf() method outputs a formatted string. Data from the additional arguments is formatted and written into placeholders in the formatted string, which are marked by a % symbol.
Top answer 1 of 2
12
println is used when you want to create a new line with just simple text or even text containing concatenation. ("Hello " + "World" = "Hello World.")
printf is used when you want to format your string. This will clean up any concatenation. For a simple example -> ("Hello, " + username + "! How are you?") could easily be cleaned up a bit by using ("Hello, %s! How are you?", username). It's up to you really when you want to use this.
I would definitely recommend it if you are using multiple variables. In that case you would use multiple conversions in your string. Please feel free to read up on the Formatter Documentation (https://docs.oracle.com/javase/7/docs/api/java/util/Formatter.html) as it will help you understand it better and it provides a full list of available conversion characters.
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as told by some guy on stack overflow:
println() prints a new blank line and then your message.
printf() provides string formatting similar to the printf function in C.
printf() is primarily needed when you need to print big strings to avoid string concatenaion in println() which can be confusing at times.
(Although both can be used in almost all cases).
Eg.
int a = 10;int b = 20;
println("a: " + a + " b: " + b); //Tedious String Concatenation
printf("a: %d b: %d\n", a, b); // Output using string formatting.
While printf() enables you to print fractional outputs up to any decimal place in a single line, the same task using println() can get very complex.
Eg.
printf("%.6f",x); // prints x up to 6 decimal places.
hope this helps
Educative
educative.io › answers › how-to-use-the-printf-function-in-java
How to use the printf() function in Java
The System.out.printf() function in Java allows users to print formatted data.
Study.com
study.com › computer science courses › computer science 109: introduction to programming
Using the printf Method for Standard Output in Java | Study.com
System is a Java class that contains three attributes: err (PrintStream) for the standard error output stream, in (InputStream) for the standard input stream and out (PrintStream) for the standard output stream.
Top answer 1 of 7
15
This is Java's formatter syntax. You can find more about it here. In your case, you have 2 parameters, that get formatted.
First s1 which is formatted using %-15s. The % means that what follows is an argument that will be formatted. Then follows a - resulting in left alignment. 15 fills the string up to a length of 15 characters (adding spaces at the end). Finally the s means, that you are formatting a string.
Second x which is formatted using %03d. Here the 0 is the fill character, meaning that, if necessary, zeros are added. The 3 is again the width, meaning the fill character 0 is added as many times as necessary to make it 3 digits long (this time at the beginning). Finally d means, that a integer is formatted.
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"%-15s" means that within 15 blank space, the String "s1" will be filled in the left. (fill in the blanks from the left) "%03d" means that within 3 0s, the integer"x" will be filled in the right.(fill in the zeros from the right).
This can only be done by using printf method.
TheServerSide
theserverside.com › blog › Coffee-Talk-Java-News-Stories-and-Opinions › How-to-use-Java-printf-to-format-output
Format output with Java printf
The Java printf function helps simplify the task of printing formatted output to the console, terminal window or log files. The Java printf function makes it easier to create informative strings of text without using String concatenation, or ...
Codecademy
codecademy.com › docs › java › output › .printf()
Java | Output | .printf() | Codecademy
May 29, 2025 - The .printf() method prints output to the console with the use of various formatting commands.
Oracle
forums.oracle.com › ords › apexds › post › system-out-printf-1279
System.out.printf - Oracle Forums
March 7, 2008 - Hi all. Just a question query. I've just been taught the uses of the printf method in Java, but I'm still a little confused as to how it works. E.g., System.out.printf("%o", 12); I know the ...
Top answer 1 of 2
1
Hi there...
the easiest answer is Console is a wrapper of System.out. Well actually Console is a wrapper of both System.in and System.out which handle the input and output of data in Java. Meaning rather than using the long way of typing System.out.printf or System.in.readLine you can just use console.printf and console.readLine.
It also useful to reduce the risk of error typing for instance System.out.readLine instead System.in.readLine.
However, some console or IDE for Java programming have issues with Console that they failed to understand the functions. But for the treehouse workspace it is okay. The main purpose here I guess Craig just want to show you how Java handles input and output within its' environment without worrying about syntax errors.
As your journey continue in Java course you will learn more about System.out and System.in, please do not worry too much about it. Right now just play along and practice on the code first.
That is all for me. Any additional inputs are welcome. I hope this can help a little.
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Now what is the difference between
System.console().writer().println("hello from console");
and
System.out.println("hello system out");
If you run your application from command line I think there is no difference. But if console is unavailable System.console() returns null while System.out still exists. This may happen if you invoke your application and perform redirect of STDOUT to file.
Here is an example -
java
import java.io.Console;
public class TestConsole
{ public static void main(String[] args)
{ Console console = System.console(); System.out.println("console=" + console); console.writer().println("hello from console"); } }
When I ran the application from command prompt I got the following:
$ java TestConsole console=java.io.Console@93dcd hello from console
but when I redirected the STDOUT to file...
$ java TestConsole >/tmp/test Exception in thread "main" java.lang.NullPointerException at TestConsole.main(TestConsole.java:8)
Line 8 is console.writer().println().
Here is the content of /tmp/test
console=null
Oracle
docs.oracle.com › javase › tutorial › java › data › numberformat.html
Formatting Numeric Print Output (The Java™ Tutorials > Learning the Java Language > Numbers and Strings)
Thus, you can use format or printf anywhere in your code where you have previously been using print or println. For example, ... where format is a string that specifies the formatting to be used and args is a list of the variables to be printed using that formatting. A simple example would be · System.out.format("The value of " + "the float variable is " + "%f, while the value of the " + "integer variable is %d, " + "and the string is %s", floatVar, intVar, stringVar);
Learning Glue
learningglue.com › home › courses › java essentials
Java printf() method - Learning Glue
April 11, 2024 - The print() and println() methods on Java are very useful when printing data to an output console, but they are limited when it comes to applying any kind of special formatting to that data line alignment, widths and specific date formats to mention a few. The printf() method comes with a range of format specifiers and sub-specifiers that give developers a comprehensive option list to choose from when displaying data. There are two general syntax options for the printf() method: System.out.printf(string); //equivalent to the print() method
Baeldung
baeldung.com › home › java › core java › formatting output with printf() in java
Formatting Output with printf() in Java | Baeldung
January 8, 2024 - The [.precision] specifies the number of digits of precision when outputting floating-point values. Additionally, we can use it to define the length of a substring to extract from a String. To break the string into separate lines, we have a %n specifier: ... The %n separator printf() will automatically insert the host system’s native line separator.
xperti
xperti.io › home › formatting with printf() in java
Guide To Use The Java printf() Method For Formatting
May 17, 2022 - Following are some of the most commonly used specifiers in the printf method in Java: To format Boolean values, we use the %b format specifier. It works in such a way that if the argument is null, then the output will be “false”. If an argument is a Boolean value, then the output will the Boolean value already assign to it. Else, the output will be “true”. ... 1. public static void main(String[] args) { 2. boolean adult = true; 3. boolean member = false 4. System.out.printf(“%b%n”, adult); 5.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/learnjava › can someone explain this printf to me?
r/learnjava on Reddit: Can someone explain this printf to me?
September 17, 2022 -
System.out.printf( "%-15s%03d %n", s1, x);
I know what the -15 means but is confusing me.
Top answer 1 of 6
9
First s1 which is formatted using %-15s. The % means that what follows is an argument that will be formatted. Then follows a - resulting in left alignment. 15 fills the string up to a length of 15 characters (adding spaces at the end). Finally the s means, that you are formatting a string. Second x which is formatted using %03d. Here the 0 is the fill character, meaning that, if necessary, zeros are added. The 3 is again the width, meaning the fill character 0 is added as many times as necessary to make it 3 digits long (this time at the beginning). Finally d means, that a integer is formatted.
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When you come across something you don't understand, go to the source as first step. So, the first stop would have been the documentation for printf that then would have led you to Formatter which would have given you a full explanation. Always, really always, start at the official documentation.
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3
Hi Evan,
Method println() prints String on new line. You can concatenate multiple items with +. Method printf() prints formatted output in the way you mentioned:
java
System.out.printf("Hey %s the movie starts at 7", friend);
Which looks better than something like this, especially for big output Strings.
java
System.out.println("hey" + friend + "the movie starts at 7");
So it is good to avoid confusion when you are printing big Strings. Pretty good explanation is also here:
https://teamtreehouse.com/community/difference-between-systemoutprintf-and-systemoutprintln
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printf gives you a little more flexibility when you want to print something multiple times.
e.g. "Hey Craig, the movie starts at 7, Craig. See you then Craig."
With println, you would do it like this:
java
String friendToInviteToMovies = "Craig";
System.out.println("Hey " + friendToInviteToMovies + ", the movie starts at 7, " + friendToInviteToMovies + ". See you then " + friendToInviteToMovies + ".";
But with printf (or the new format), you can do this:
java
String friendToInviteToMovies = "Craig";
System.out.printf("Hey %1$s, the movie starts at 7, %1$s. See you then %1$s.%n", friendToInviteToMovies);