Node.js util.format() Method

The util.format() (Added in v0.5.3) method is an inbuilt application programming interface of the util module which is like printf format string and returns a formatted string using the first argument. The formatted string contains zero or more format specifiers in which the corresponding argument value is converted and replaced. It is used as a debugging tool in a synchronous method hence, it can have a significant performance overhead that could block the event loop. It is recommended not to use this function in a hot code path.

Syntax: 

util.format(format[, ...args])

Parameters: This method accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below:

• format: It consists of specifiers of <string> type, which is like printf format string.
• args: It is the <string> type list of arguments.

Supported specifiers are:

• %%: It replaces the specifier with a single percent sign ('%%'/'%') and doesn't consume any argument even if it is provided.
• %s (String): It converts all values according to the given format except Object, BigInt, and -0. Objects that have no user-defined toString function are inspected using util.inspect() and BigInt values are represented with n.
• %c(CSS): If any CSS is passed, it will be skipped. Usually, this specifier is ignored.
• %d (Number): It converts all values according to the given format except Symbol and BigInt.
• %i (parseInt()): It parses a <string> and returns an integer, it is used for all values except BigInt and Symbol.
• %f (parseFloat()): It parses a string and returns a floating-point number, it is used for all values except Symbols.
• %j (JSON): No complicated parsing or translations, if there are circular references in the argument then it is replaced with the string '[Circular]'.
• %o(Object): It is a string representation of an object with generic JavaScript object formatting. Similar to util.inspect(). It shows the full object along with non-enumerable properties and proxies.
• %O(Object): It is similar to '%o' but without options, it does not include non-enumerable properties and proxies.

Return Value: It returns the formatted string of <string> type.

Example 1: In this example, we will see the use of the util.format().

index.js 

Run the index.js file using the following command: 

node index.js

Output:

abc:
:abc:def ghi jkl
10 20 30
%% : %s : %d
% : 567

Example 2: In this example, we will see the use of the util.format().

index.js 

Run the index.js file using the following command: 

node index.js

Output:

1.> %: abc def -0
2.> % abc def ghi
3.> abc 9.432132132122338e+28
4.> abc [Object: null prototype] [def] {}
5.> NaN 94303685
6.> 2020 He was 40, 10.33, 10, 10
7.> 94321321321.564 abc 943036854775807
8.> "{ \"name\":\"John\", \"age\":31, 
 \"city\":\"New York\" }" abc 943036854775807
9.> <ref *1> [Function: Bar] {
 [length]: 0,
 [prototype]: Bar { [constructor]: [Circular *1] },
 [name]: 'Bar'
 } abc 943036854775807
10.> <ref *1> [Function: Foo] {
 [length]: 0,
 [prototype]: Foo {
 [constructor]: [Circular *1],
 [Symbol(Symbol.toStringTag)]: [Getter]
 },
 [name]: 'Foo'
 }:NaN 943036854775807
11.> randomClass {}

Conditions:

• If no corresponding argument is passed to the specifier then it is not replaced.
• If multiple arguments are passed than the number of specifiers, then extra arguments will be concatenated to the returned string.
• If 'values' do not belong to format string and their type is not a string then they are formatted using util.inspect() method.
• If the first argument doesn't have a valid format specifier, then util.format() returns concatenated arguments.

Reference: https://nodejs.org/api/util.html#util_util_format_format_args