Difference between sprintf() & vsprintf() functions in PHP

sprintf()

The sprintf() function writes a formatted string to a variable.

<?php
$number = 9;
$str = "Beijing";
$txt = sprintf("There are %u million bicycles in %s.",$number,$str);
echo $txt;
?>

The arg1, arg2, ++ parameters will be inserted at percent (%) signs in the main string. This function works “step-by-step”. At the first % sign, arg1 is inserted, at the second % sign, arg2 is inserted, etc.

Note: If there are more % signs than arguments, you must use placeholders. A placeholder is inserted after the % sign, and consists of the argument- number and “$”.

vsprintf()

Unlike sprintf(), the arguments in vsprintf(), are placed in an array. The array elements will be inserted at the percent (%) signs in the main string.

<?php
$number = 9;
$str = "Beijing";
$txt = vsprintf("There are %u million bicycles in %s.",array($number,$str));
echo $txt;
?>

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This article was published on January 5, 2022

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