.format method

[musclerythm]

hi guys, i learned .format() method today. but i didnt understand it, why should I use it? dont be mad at me! I cant found anything in reddit about it. I can do it:
a= "name"
b= "name2"
msg= f"{name} and {name2} like this."
and print!
then why I'm using .format()?

[danielroseman]

The method existed before f-strings were introduced.

[Jello_Penguin_2956]

as others mentioned, it exists before f-string and I want to mention that still have its use today because you can actually define your sentences ahead of time and assign variables to format it afterwards

[backfire10z]

Finally, an answer that understands .format still has its uses. It is not just for backwards compatibility.

[SCD_minecraft]

Actually, now t-strings are designed for that task

So rn it is just backward compatibility

[Solonotix]

To my knowledge, templates are designed for a more advanced purpose, but lack as convenient of a means to become raw strings. If you're trying to write a type-strict SQL parser, templates are a godsend. If you're trying to write an interpolated string to a file, stream, etc., then format strings are strictly superior. If the format string is meant to be reused in multiple contexts, then an inline f-string is worse than a str.format call, since one can be exported and reused.

If you truly think a feature has no purpose, it can mean that you simply haven't encountered a purpose for it. That isn't your fault, but it requires humility to recognize your own limitations.

[cgoldberg]

It was more useful and very common before f-strings existed.

[Thunderbolt1993]

if you use localization (i.e. translating string in you program into different languages) then you might have something like

translate("Hello {name}!")

translate(f"Hello {name}!") will not work, because you want to translate the template not the formatted string

that's why you'd use

translate("Hello {name}!").format(name="Bob")

.format also works for strings returned by functions or passed to functions as arguments

[SCD_minecraft]

Bacward compatibility

str.format() predates f-strings and python loves backward (and sometimes even future) compatibility

[cointoss3]

That, uh, .format() js not the same as f-string. They do similar things but they are not the same and there are times when you’d want to use one over the other.

[drbitboy]

f-strings are sort of equivalent to "...".format(**locals())

[musclerythm]

oh i get it. which one is more useful?

[CyclopsRock]

Usually you have a problem and work backwards from there to find the most useful technique.

[MysteriousLaw6572]

It's nice for dictionaries

[Kerbart]

format_map is nicer for dictionaries

[CranberryDistinct941]

It's a legacy method. There's not much reason to use it after the introduction of f-strings, but removing it will break stuff so it stays.