=over =item sprintf FORMAT, LIST Returns a string formatted by the usual C conventions of the C library function C. See L or L on your system for an explanation of the general principles. Perl does its own C formatting -- it emulates the C function C, but it doesn't use it (except for floating-point numbers, and even then only the standard modifiers are allowed). As a result, any non-standard extensions in your local C are not available from Perl. Perl's C permits the following universally-known conversions: %% a percent sign %c a character with the given number %s a string %d a signed integer, in decimal %u an unsigned integer, in decimal %o an unsigned integer, in octal %x an unsigned integer, in hexadecimal %e a floating-point number, in scientific notation %f a floating-point number, in fixed decimal notation %g a floating-point number, in %e or %f notation In addition, Perl permits the following widely-supported conversions: %X like %x, but using upper-case letters %E like %e, but using an upper-case "E" %G like %g, but with an upper-case "E" (if applicable) %p a pointer (outputs the Perl value's address in hexadecimal) %n special: *stores* the number of characters output so far into the next variable in the parameter list Finally, for backward (and we do mean "backward") compatibility, Perl permits these unnecessary but widely-supported conversions: %i a synonym for %d %D a synonym for %ld %U a synonym for %lu %O a synonym for %lo %F a synonym for %f Perl permits the following universally-known flags between the C<%> and the conversion letter: space prefix positive number with a space + prefix positive number with a plus sign - left-justify within the field 0 use zeros, not spaces, to right-justify # prefix non-zero octal with "0", non-zero hex with "0x" number minimum field width .number "precision": digits after decimal point for floating-point, max length for string, minimum length for integer l interpret integer as C type "long" or "unsigned long" h interpret integer as C type "short" or "unsigned short" There is also one Perl-specific flag: V interpret integer as Perl's standard integer type Where a number would appear in the flags, an asterisk ("C<*>") may be used instead, in which case Perl uses the next item in the parameter list as the given number (that is, as the field width or precision). If a field width obtained through "C<*>" is negative, it has the same effect as the "C<->" flag: left-justification. If C is in effect, the character used for the decimal point in formatted real numbers is affected by the LC_NUMERIC locale. See L. =back