The C language features a host of symbols that take on different meanings depending on how they’re used. Unless you’re careful, these operators’ multiple personalities can confuse the bejeebers out of you.
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Either-or decisions are easy. They’re similar to the 1 or 0 of low-level programming: True/False, On/Off, Yes/No. When a third element appears, decision-making becomes more complex. To put it another way: That third element can drive both the programmer and the program crazy.
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I don’t think I’ve ever seen the full lot of printf() conversion characters explained in any detail. This lesson is the last in a series of my attempt to do just that.
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The printf() function’s conversion characters %s and %c seem to be rather straightforward. Or are they?
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Perhaps the most complex and bizarre things you can format with printf() conversion characters are floating point numbers. The variety of the options can be overwhelming.
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The printf() function’s power lies in its formatting abilities, specifically the display of values. That power is vast, but the documentation showing how it works really sucks.
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The printf() function is most concerned with getting the number of conversion characters — the % placeholders — to match the number of variables specified. Beyond that, it’s rather ambivalent as to whether the types match properly.
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A variable in C is a myth. Oh, yeah, it’s a location in memory. That’s pretty much it. After declaring the variable, the compiler — and you, the programmer — pretty much rely upon faith that the variable works and can actually be useful.
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