What is the use of first digit in format specifier?

Question

printf("pi=%3.2f", 3.1456)
Here if 3 is the width, I gave 3124.1456 as the input. But I got the answer as itself. It didn't cut off 4.

Answer 1

The first digit gives the overall *minimal* width including dot that your number is supposed to occupy. If it's longer, you just don't see any effect. Change the number to 10 and there'll be a whitespace gap.

If you don't want that, just write:

%.2

Answer 2

10 in your format-specifier!

%10.2f

First number is total minimal width, second number is digits after the dot.

Answer 3

I have explained that in the first post. Please try what I just wrote and see if you get it!

Answer 4

Because 10 is not a float. That's a different error.

Answer 5

Do you mean it is the number of total characters. But when I gave 10 why didn't it give 10.00. It just gave 0.00

Answer 6

Thanks a lot brother. I got you
👍🙂

Answer 7

I gave 10, I got the answer as 0.00. I still don't understand what happens. Pls explain me.

Answer 8

What is minimal width?