Format¶
Format is a set of rules to structure a piece of text, and make it parsable by a specific engine. A piece of text may be in the format: then, it is usable as a command for another technology.
Formats have various shapes. Here are some examples of formats:
SQL Structure Query Language: SELECT column FROM table
Date and time (human): 2020-01-01
sprintf(): %d 9
Regular expressions
YAML
INI
CSV
JSON
It is possible to define one’s custom format. Common formats have a comprehensive specifications (how to build them) and assorted tools (encode, decode, use, combine, etc. ).
<?php
// displays 123 with 9 characters, and fills with dots any empty characters
// ......123
echo sprintf("%'.9d\n", 123);
?>
Related : String