Formatting using format() method in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of positional and keyword arguments in format()

What is the output of this code snippet?

Python

result = "{1} scored {score} points".format("Alice", "Bob", score=95)
print(result)

A Bob scored 95 points

B Alice scored 95 points

C 1 scored 95 points

D IndexError

💡 Hint

Remember that numbers inside curly braces refer to positional arguments by index.

The {1} refers to the second positional argument, which is 'Bob'. The keyword argument 'score' is 95.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Using format() with alignment and width

What will this code print?

Python

print("|{:<10}|{:^10}|{:>10}|".format('left', 'center', 'right'))

A |left |center | right|

B | left| center |right |

C |left|center|right|

D |left | center | right|

💡 Hint

Check the alignment symbols: < for left, ^ for center, > for right.

The first field is left aligned in 10 spaces, second centered, third right aligned.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Understanding nested replacement fields

What is the output of this code?

Python

data = {'name': 'John', 'age': 30}
print("{0[name]} is {0[age]} years old".format(data))

A John is 30 years old

B {0[name]} is {0[age]} years old

C TypeError

D KeyError

💡 Hint

The 0 refers to the first argument, which is a dictionary.

The format method accesses dictionary keys inside the replacement fields.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Formatting floats with precision and padding

What does this code print?

Python

print("{num:0>8.3f}".format(num=12.34567))

A 12.34600

B 0012.346

C 000012.3467

D 12.34567

💡 Hint

0>8 means pad with zeros on the left to width 8, .3f means 3 decimal places.

The number is rounded to 3 decimals and padded with zeros on the left to fill 8 characters.

❓ Predict Output

expert

Using format() with dynamic field names and expressions

What is the output of this code?

Python

person = {'first': 'Jane', 'last': 'Doe'}
index = 'first'
print("{0[{1}]} {0[last]}".format(person, index))

A KeyError

B first Doe

C Jane Doe

D IndexError

💡 Hint

The second argument is used as a key to access the dictionary in the first argument.

The {0[{1}]} accesses person[index], which is person['first'] = 'Jane'.