Python: String Formatter Align center

Question

print('%24s' % "MyString")     # prints right aligned
print('%-24s' % "MyString")    # prints left aligned

How do I print it in the center? Is there a quick way to do this?

I don't want the text to be in the center of my screen. I want it to be in the center of that 24 spaces. If I have to do it manually, what is the math behind adding the same no. of spaces before and after the text?

score 61 · Accepted Answer · answered Jun 27 '17 at 13:29

61

Use the new-style format method instead of the old-style % operator, which doesn't have the centering functionality:

print('{:^24s}'.format("MyString"))

answered Jun 27 '17 at 13:29

Błotosmętek

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Oh wow, this should be helpful for all python newbies like me; I wouldn't have noticed it if I started all the way without asking this question – Saravanabalagi Ramachandran Jun 27 '17 at 13:40
This method reduces the space the longer the string, until the point where there is no space. – monkey Dec 13 '19 at 19:43
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print(f'{"MyString":^24s}') – user7048748 Dec 24 '20 at 12:52
What does the s at the end do? – Raul Chiarella Dec 13 '22 at 15:51
s stands for string - there are also other format specifications like d for decimals, f for fixed-point floats etc., see https://docs.python.org/3/library/string.html – Błotosmętek Dec 14 '22 at 21:39

score 39 · Answer 2 · edited Nov 26 '19 at 16:54

39

You can use str.center() method.

In your case, it will be: "MyString".center(24)

edited Nov 26 '19 at 16:54

Boris Verkhovskiy

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answered Jun 27 '17 at 13:27

Vlad Sydorenko

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Imho better than format options because clearly expresses the intent, not only that but also one can use a fill character different from the default `" "` , as can be shown in the following example: `print("MyString".center(24, "-")` → `--------MyString--------` – gboffi Jun 27 '17 at 13:40
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@gboffi changing the fill character is possible with `format` too: `print('{:#^24s},'.format("MyString"))` – Błotosmętek Jun 27 '17 at 13:48
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this method allows us to use it with old formatting style `print('%24s' % "MyString".center(24))` – Saravanabalagi Ramachandran Jun 27 '17 at 13:55

score 9 · Answer 3 · answered Aug 24 '19 at 13:17

9

Python 3:

You can follow the below syntax:

stringName.center(width,fillChar)

In your example:

"MyString".center(24," ")

answered Aug 24 '19 at 13:17

Dipen Gajjar

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score 1 · Answer 4 · answered Jun 27 '17 at 13:29

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Ideally you would use .format().

Resource that explains center. along with others here

answered Jun 27 '17 at 13:29

Kyle Becker

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Python: String Formatter Align center

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