Tarun Kolla :
String.format("%-" + 3 + "." + 3 + "s", givenString);
This is supposed to add white spaces but it doesn't. I tried it on an online compiler and it adds up the numbers to the string. I don't understand what that's doing. Could someone explain?
oleg.cherednik :
public static String format(String format, Object... args) - this is the method declaration.
String format = "%-" + 3 + '.' + 3 + 's'; // = %-3.3s
String.format(format, givenString);
This is used to build format dynamically, but it does not have variables in it, so you could replace it with String.format("%-3.3s", givenString);
According to format, this prints a string with a maximum of 3 characters in length. It reserves 3 symbols per line and it will be left justified in case givenString is less than 3 characters long.
Demo:
System.out.println(String.format("%-3.3s", "ab")); // "ab "
System.out.println(String.format("%-3.3s", "abc")); // "abc"
System.out.println(String.format("%-3.3s", "abcd")); // "abc"
System.out.println(String.format("%-3.3s", "a") + String.format("%-3.3s", "b")); // "a b "
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