SQLite 3 reference · String Functions

SQLite FORMAT() Function

Build a string from a template with printf-style placeholders such as %s, %d, %.2f and %,d. printf() is the old name.

SQLite 3 Since 3.8.3

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Syntax

format(FORMAT, ...)  |  printf(FORMAT, ...)

Parameter	Description
`FORMAT`	The template: `%s` text, `%d` integer, `%.2f` decimal, `%5s` padded, `%,d` thousands separators, `%q` SQL-quoted, `%%` a percent sign.
`...`	Values for the placeholders.

The formatted text.

Format pricesTry it yourself

SELECT format('%s costs $%.2f', name, price) AS line
FROM products
LIMIT 3;

Output

line
SQL for Beginners costs $29.99
Clean Code costs $37.50
The Pragmatic Programmer costs $42.00

Padding and thousandsTry it yourself

SELECT format('%05d', 42) AS padded,
       format('%,d', 1234567) AS grouped,
       format('%-6s|', 'ab') AS left_aligned;

Output

padded | grouped | left_aligned
00042 | 1,234,567 | ab    |

Version	Change
SQLite 3.8.3	Added
SQLite 3.38.0	Renamed to `format()`; `printf()` still works as an alias.

CONCAT() · Join any number of values into one string. Unlike ||, NULL arguments are skipped instead of making the result NULL.
ROUND() · Round a number to a given number of decimal places (0 by default). Halves round away from zero.
SQL String Functions · tutorial