print() parameters and formatting in Python - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Output of print() with sep and end parameters

What is the output of this Python code?

print('A', 'B', 'C', sep='-', end='!')
print('D')

Python

print('A', 'B', 'C', sep='-', end='!')
print('D')

A A B C!D

B A B C\nD

C A-B-C\nD

D A-B-C!D

💡 Hint

Remember that sep changes the separator between items and end changes what is printed at the end.

The sep='-' makes the items print separated by dashes. The end='!' means the first print does not add a newline but an exclamation mark. So the second print starts immediately after the exclamation mark.

❓ Predict Output

intermediate

Using flush parameter in print()

What does this code print?

import sys
print('Hello', flush=True)
print('World', flush=False)

Python

import sys
print('Hello', flush=True)
print('World', flush=False)

A Hello\nWorld\n

B HelloWorld

C Hello\nWorld

D Hello World

💡 Hint

The flush parameter forces the output buffer to write immediately.

Both print statements add a newline by default. The flush parameter does not change output content, only when it is sent to the screen. So the output is two lines: Hello and World.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Formatted string with print() and f-string

What is the output of this code?

name = 'Sam'
age = 7
print(f'{name} is {age} years old.')

Python

name = 'Sam'
age = 7
print(f'{name} is {age} years old.')

A {name} is {age} years old.

B name is age years old.

C Sam is 7 years old.

D Sam is age years old.

💡 Hint

f-strings replace variables inside curly braces with their values.

The f-string evaluates variables inside {} and inserts their values. So it prints 'Sam is 7 years old.'.

❓ Predict Output

advanced

Using print() with multiple end parameters

What is the output of this code?

print('X', end='-')
print('Y', end='*')
print('Z')

Python

print('X', end='-')
print('Y', end='*')
print('Z')

A X-Y*Z\n

B X-Y-Z\n

C X Y Z\n

D X-Y*Z

💡 Hint

Each print uses its own end parameter to decide what to print after the content.

The first print ends with '-', second ends with '*', third ends with default newline. So output is 'X-Y*Z' followed by newline.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding print() with file parameter

What happens when you run this code?

import sys
print('Error message', file=sys.stderr)

Python

import sys
print('Error message', file=sys.stderr)

A Prints 'Error message' to the standard output (stdout).

B Prints 'Error message' to the error output stream (stderr).

C Raises a TypeError because file=sys.stderr is invalid.

D Prints nothing because stderr is not connected.

💡 Hint

The file parameter directs print output to a specific stream.

Using file=sys.stderr sends the printed text to the error output stream, which is separate from standard output.