How to use f-strings in Python | note.nkmk.me (2024)

Python 3.6 introduced a new feature, known as formatted string literals, or f-strings, to simplify the use of the string method format().

• Lexical analysis - Formatted string literals — Python 3.11.3 documentation
• PEP 498 -- Literal String Interpolation | Python.org

For a detailed overview of the string method format(), the built-in function format(), and format specification strings, refer to the following article.

• Format strings and numbers with format() in Python

Basic usage of f-strings

The format() method inserts values into the replacement field {} using positional or keyword arguments.

a = 123b = 'abc'print('{} and {}'.format(a, b))# 123 and abcprint('{first} and {second}'.format(first=a, second=b))# 123 and abc

An f-string is a string literal prefixed with f or F, like f'...' or F'...'. It allows you to specify variables directly in the replacement field {}.

print(f'{a} and {b}')# 123 and abcprint(F'{a} and {b}')# 123 and abc

Like regular string literals, f-strings can use single quotes '', double quotes "", and triple quotes ''', """.

• Create a string in Python (single/double/triple quotes, str())

print(f"{a} and {b}")# 123 and abcprint(f'''{a} and {b}''')# 123 and abcprint(f"""{a} and {b}""")# 123 and abc

Format specifications

As with the format() method, f-strings can specify a variety of formats by adding a format specification string after the colon : in {}.

Some examples are shown here. For more information, refer to the following article.

• Format strings and numbers with format() in Python

Left-justify, center, right-justify

s = 'abc'print(f'right : {s:*>8}')print(f'center: {s:*^8}')print(f'left : {s:*<8}')# right : *****abc# center: **abc***# left : abc*****

Zero-padding

i = 1234print(f'zero padding: {i:08}')# zero padding: 00001234

Separator

i = 1234567890print(f'comma: {i:,}')# comma: 1,234,567,890

Binary, octal, and hexadecimal representation

i = 255print(f'bin : {i:b}')print(f'oct : {i:o}')print(f'hex(lower): {i:x}')print(f'hex(upper): {i:X}')# bin : 11111111# oct : 377# hex(lower): ff# hex(upper): FFprint(f'bin : {i:08b}')print(f'oct : {i:08o}')print(f'hex(lower): {i:08x}')print(f'hex(upper): {i:08X}')# bin : 11111111# oct : 00000377# hex(lower): 000000ff# hex(upper): 000000FFprint(f'bin : {i:#010b}')print(f'oct : {i:#010o}')print(f'hex(lower): {i:#010x}')print(f'hex(upper): {i:#010X}')# bin : 0b11111111# oct : 0o00000377# hex(lower): 0x000000ff# hex(upper): 0X000000FF

Decimal places and significant digits

f = 12.3456print(f'decimal places : {f:.3f}')print(f'significant digits: {f:.3g}')# decimal places : 12.346# significant digits: 12.3

Scientific notation

f = 12.3456print(f'exponent(lower): {f:.3e}')print(f'exponent(upper): {f:.3E}')# exponent(lower): 1.235e+01# exponent(upper): 1.235E+01

Percentage

f = 0.123print(f'percent: {f:.2%}')# percent: 12.30%

Date and time (datetime)

import datetimedt = datetime.datetime(2020, 1, 5, 20, 15, 30)print(f'datetime: {dt}')# datetime: 2020-01-05 20:15:30print(f'datetime: {dt:%A, %m/%d/%Y %I:%M:%S %p}')# datetime: Sunday, 01/05/2020 08:15:30 PMprint(f'datetime: {dt.isoformat()}')# datetime: 2020-01-05T20:15:30

For more information on the datetime module, see the following article.

• Handle date and time with the datetime module in Python

As in the last example, it is easier to use the isoformat() method than to specify format codes when converting to ISO 8601 format.

• Convert between isoformat string and datetime in Python

Braces (curly brackets) {}

To include braces { and } in f-strings, double them like {{ and }}. Note that the backslash \ cannot be used.

n = 123print(f'{{}}-{n}-{{{n}}}')# {}-123-{123}

Nested replacement fields

Similar to the format() method, f-strings allow replacement fields within other replacement fields. The number in the format specification string can be a variable.

n = 123i = 8print('{n:0{i}}'.format(n=n, i=i))# 00000123print(f'{n:0{i}}')# 00000123

You could also write:

f = 1.2345for i in range(5): print(f'{f:.{i}f}')# 1# 1.2# 1.23# 1.234# 1.2345

Raw strings and f-strings

In regular strings, backslash \ represents special characters. However, when a string is prefixed with r or R, creating a raw string literal, backslash escapes are disregarded.

• Raw strings in Python

print('x\ty')# x yprint(r'x\ty')# x\ty

If you prefix a string with both r and f, it will be treated as both a raw string and an f-string. The order of r and f doesn't matter, and you can use either lowercase or uppercase letters.

x = 'XXX'y = 'YYY'print(f'{x}\t{y}')# XXX YYYprint(rf'{x}\t{y}')# XXX\tYYYprint(FR'{x}\t{y}')# XXX\tYYY

Difference between the format() method and f-strings

Expressions

With the format() method, expressions cannot be included in the replacement field.

a = 3b = 4# print('{a} + {b} = {a + b}'.format(a=a, b=b))# KeyError: 'a + b'

In contrast, f-strings allow the use of expressions within the replacement field. It is also possible to specify a format specification string for the outcome of the expression.

print(f'{a} + {b} = {a + b}')# 3 + 4 = 7print(f'{a} * {b} = {a * b}')# 3 * 4 = 12print(f'{a} / {b} = {a / b:.2e}')# 3 / 4 = 7.50e-01

How to specify dictionary keys

When using a dictionary (dict) in a replacement field, the format() method does not require the key to be surrounded by ' or ".

d = {'key1': 10, 'key2': 20}print('{0[key1]}, {0[key2]}'.format(d))# 10, 20# print('{0["key1"]}, {0["key2"]}'.format(d))# KeyError: '"key1"'

However, f-strings require the key to be enclosed in ' or ".

print(f'{d["key1"]}, {d["key2"]}')# 10, 20# print(f'{d[key1]}, {d[key2]}')# NameError: name 'key1' is not defined

Like regular strings, you cannot use the same quotation marks within the string as the ones enclosing the entire string. For example, if the whole string is enclosed in ", use ' inside.

# print(f'{d['key1']}, {d['key2']}')# SyntaxError: invalid syntaxprint(f"{d['key1']}, {d['key2']}")# 10, 20

Note that backslash escaping cannot be used within a replacement field.

# print(f'{d[\'key1\']}, {d[\'key2\']}')# SyntaxError: f-string expression part cannot include a backslash

The = specifier in f-strings (Python 3.8 and later)

From Python 3.8, f-strings support an = specifier, which prints both variable names and their corresponding values.

• What’s New In Python 3.8 — Python 3.11.3 documentation

i = 123print(f'{i=}')# i=123

If you place a space before or after the variable name and =, it will be preserved in the output.

print(f'{i = }')# i = 123print(f'{ i = }')# i = 123

You can also specify format specification strings and expressions with the = specifier.

print(f'{i = :#b}')# i = 0b1111011print(f'{i * 2 = }')# i * 2 = 246

This also applies to lists and dictionaries.

l = [0, 10, 20]print(f'{l = }, {l[1] = }')# l = [0, 10, 20], l[1] = 10d = {'key1': 10, 'key2': 20}print(f'{d = }, {d["key1"] = }')# d = {'key1': 10, 'key2': 20}, d["key1"] = 10