Java Program to Format a String

To format a string, use the String.format() method in Java. The following is an example that formats a string %s.

Example

 Live Demo

public class Demo {
   public static void main(String []args) {
      String str = String.format("%s %s", "demo", "text");
      System.out.print("String: "+str);
   }
}

Output

String: demo text

Left pad a string

To left pad a string, use the String.format and set the spaces.

String.format("|%20s|", "demotext")

If you add 30 above, it will display the first string after 30 spaces from the beginning.

String.format("|%30s|", "demotext")

The following is an example.

Example

 Live Demo

public class Demo {
   public static void main(String []args) {
      System.out.print(String.format("|%20s|", "demotext"));
      System.out.println("Left padded!");
   }
}

Output

| demotext|Left padded

Right pad a string

To right pad a string, use the String.format and set the spaces.

String.format("%1$-" + 20 + "s", "demotext"));

If you add 30 above, it will display the next string after 30 spaces from the beginning.

String.format("%1$-" + 30 + "s", "demotext")

The following is an example.

Example

 Live Demo

public class Demo {
   public static void main(String []args) {
      System.out.print(String.format("%1$-" + 20 + "s", "demotext"));
      System.out.println("Right padded!");
   }
}

Output

demotext Right padded!