Sunday, May 17, 2026
HomeLanguagesJavaConsole printf(String, Object) method in Java with Examples

Console printf(String, Object) method in Java with Examples

The printf(String, Object) method of Console class in Java is used to write a formatted string to the output stream of the console. It uses the specified format string and arguments. It is a convenience method.

Syntax:

public Console printf(String fmt,
                      Object... args)

Parameters: This method accepts two parameters:

  • fmt – It represents the format of the string.
  • args – It represents the arguments that are referenced by the format specifiers in the string format.

Return value: This method returns the console.

Exceptions: This method throws IllegalFormatException if string format contains an illegal syntax or a format specifier is not compatible with the given arguments or insufficient arguments given the format string or other conditions that are illegal.

Note: System.console() returns null in an online IDE.

Below programs illustrate printf(String, Object) method in Console class in IO package:

Program 1:




// Java program to illustrate
// Console printf(String, Object) method
  
import java.io.*;
  
public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create the console object
        Console cnsl
            = System.console();
  
        if (cnsl == null) {
            System.out.println(
                "No console available");
            return;
        }
  
        String fmt = "%1$4s %2$10s %3$10s%n";
  
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Books", "Author", "Price");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "-----", "------", "-----");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "DBMS", "Navathe", "800");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Algorithm", "Cormen", "925");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Operating System", "Rajib Mall", "750");
    }
}


Output:

Program 2:




// Java program to illustrate
// Console printf(String, Object) method
  
import java.io.*;
  
public class GFG {
    public static void main(String[] args)
    {
        // Create the console object
        Console cnsl
            = System.console();
  
        if (cnsl == null) {
            System.out.println(
                "No console available");
            return;
        }
  
        String fmt = "%1$4s %2$10s %3$10s%n";
  
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Items", "Quantity", "Price");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "-----", "------", "-----");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Tomato", "1 Kg", "80");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Apple", "3 Kg", "500");
        cnsl.printf(fmt, "Potato", "2 Kg", "75");
    }
}


Output:

References:
https://docs.oracle.com/javase/10/docs/api/java/io/Console.html#printf(java.lang.String, java.lang.Object…)

RELATED ARTICLES

4 COMMENTS

Most Popular

Dominic
32514 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Milvus
131 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nango Kala
6892 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nicole Veronica
12012 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Nokonwaba Nkukhwana
12107 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Shaida Kate Naidoo
7016 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Ted Musemwa
7262 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Thapelo Manthata
6975 POSTS0 COMMENTS
Umr Jansen
6963 POSTS0 COMMENTS