Parameters

stream

A file system pointer resource that is typically created using fopen().

format

The format string is composed of zero or more directives: ordinary characters (excluding %) that are copied directly to the result and conversion specifications, each of which results in fetching its own parameter.

A conversion specification follows this prototype: %[argnum$][flags][width][.precision]specifier.

Argnum

An integer followed by a dollar sign $, to specify which number argument to treat in the conversion.

Flags

Flag	Description
-	Left-justify within the given field width; Right justification is the default
+	Prefix positive numbers with a plus sign +; Default only negative are prefixed with a negative sign.
(space)	Pads the result with spaces. This is the default.
0	Only left-pads numbers with zeros. With s specifiers this can also right-pad with zeros.
'(char)	Pads the result with the character (char).

Width

An integer that says how many characters (minimum) this conversion should result in.

Precision

A period . followed by an integer who's meaning depends on the specifier:

• For e, E, f and F specifiers: this is the number of digits to be printed after the decimal point (by default, this is 6).
• For g and G specifiers: this is the maximum number of significant digits to be printed.
• For s specifier: it acts as a cutoff point, setting a maximum character limit to the string.

Note: If the period is specified without an explicit value for precision, 0 is assumed.

Note: Attempting to use a position specifier greater than PHP_INT_MAX will generate warnings.

Specifiers

Specifier	Description
%	A literal percent character. No argument is required.
b	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as a binary number.
c	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as the character with that ASCII.
d	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as a (signed) decimal number.
e	The argument is treated as scientific notation (e.g. 1.2e+2). The precision specifier stands for the number of digits after the decimal point since PHP 5.2.1. In earlier versions, it was taken as number of significant digits (one less).
E	Like the e specifier but uses uppercase letter (e.g. 1.2E+2).
f	The argument is treated as a float and presented as a floating-point number (locale aware).
F	The argument is treated as a float and presented as a floating-point number (non-locale aware). Available as of PHP 5.0.3.
g	General format. Let P equal the precision if nonzero, 6 if the precision is omitted, or 1 if the precision is zero. Then, if a conversion with style E would have an exponent of X: If P > X ≥ −4, the conversion is with style f and precision P − (X + 1). Otherwise, the conversion is with style e and precision P − 1.
G	Like the g specifier but uses E and f.
h	Like the g specifier but uses F. Available as of PHP 8.0.0.
H	Like the g specifier but uses E and F. Available as of PHP 8.0.0.
o	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as an octal number.
s	The argument is treated and presented as a string.
u	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as an unsigned decimal number.
x	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as a hexadecimal number (with lowercase letters).
X	The argument is treated as an integer and presented as a hexadecimal number (with uppercase letters).

Warning

The c type specifier ignores padding and width

Warning

Attempting to use a combination of the string and width specifiers with character sets that require more than one byte per character may result in unexpected results

Variables will be co-erced to a suitable type for the specifier:

Type Handling

Type	Specifiers
string	s
integer	d, u, c, o, x, X, b
double	g, G, e, E, f, F

values