Python - Modulus format variable

Question

When I type the following into Notepad++ as Python code:

days = "Mon"

print "Here are the days: %s ". % days

I get this output in Windows Powershell:

File "ex9exp.py", line 4
print "Here are the days: %s ". % days

I am at a loss as to why this is happening.

I intend for the output of

print "Here are the days: %s ". % days

to be

Here are the days: Mon

Would appreciate some help.

Why the dot after the string? Also how are you running the code? — Maroun
– Maroun, Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 15:40
If you are getting a syntax error remove the . after the string "Here are the days: %s " — avenet
– avenet, Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 15:41
Ah ok - just removed the dot and it worked! Thanks. Am quite new to this. If you could reply in a comment explaining why the dot led to it not working that would be very grand! Am a beginner and am learning this as I go along. — Raz
– Raz, Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 15:42
OK @Raz, I explained the problem in the answer. Thank you... — avenet
– avenet, Commented Jan 4, 2015 at 15:56

avenet · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-04 15:55:30Z

1

The . after the string is an operator used in some languages like PHP to append strings, but it does not work in Python, so a code like this:

days = "Mon"

print "Here are the days: %s ". % days

Produces the following output:

   File "h.py", line 3
     print "Here are the days: %s ". % days
                                     ^ SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Letting you know the compiler/interpreter was not expecting a ".".

The problem can be fixed removing the ., like this:

days = "Mon"

print "Here are the days: %s " % days

It will work that way.

answered Jan 4, 2015 at 15:55

avenet

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Comments

Bhargav Rao · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-04 15:42:53Z

1

The problem is that the syntax of the print function you are using is wrong.

>>> days = "Mon"
>>> 
>>> print "Here are the days: %s ". % days   
  File "<stdin>", line 1
    print "Here are the days: %s ". % days   
                                    ^
SyntaxError: invalid syntax

Remove the .. and try

>>> print "Here are the days: %s " % days   
Here are the days: Mon

answered Jan 4, 2015 at 15:42

Bhargav Rao

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Gadi · Accepted Answer · 2015-02-25 01:13:43Z

0

You can also use + to append strings

print "Here are the days: " + days

will work

answered Feb 25, 2015 at 1:13

Gadi

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