What does the % sign do in python

Question

I understand that if you say something like this

print(26%5)

the output would be 1 because it does the remainder. But all too often I see it used for something else and I'm clueless as of what it means. Like people use it like this sometimes

print(%s + "Something else")

I don't even know if the syntax was correct there.

Answer 1

In string context, that's not the same operator than in number context... In string context, it's the (old) format operator, used to set placeholder:

"i am %s and i am %d years old" % ( name, age )

'%' is required IN string to define placeholders, AND AFTER string, as separator of tupple with the values (usually variables) to format inside the string...
The new Python3 way (even if the old is still supported) is rather:

"i am {} and i am {} years old".format( name, age )

https://pyformat.info

Answer 2

hum in strings it is used for string firmatting after c style

like

"i am %s and i am %d years old", name, age

%s for strings
%d for digits