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GNU shell utilities

4.2 printf: Format and print data

printf does formatted printing of text. Synopsis:

printf format [argument]...

printf prints the format string, interpreting `%' directives and `\' escapes in the same way as the C printf function. The format argument is re-used as necessary to convert all of the given arguments.

printf has one additional directive, `%b', which prints its argument string with `\' escapes interpreted in the same way as in the format string.

printf interprets `\0ooo' in format as an octal number (if ooo is 0 to 3 octal digits) specifying a character to print, and `\xhhh' as a hexadecimal number (if hhh is 1 to 3 hex digits) specifying a character to print.

An additional escape, `\c', causes printf to produce no further output.

The only options are a lone `--help' or `--version'. See section 2. Common options.