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Choose the padding direction
These string methods return a new string; they do not change the original string or print anything. The number passed to each method is the minimum total width of the result.
| Goal | Method | Example with "cat" |
Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Add spaces on the right | ljust(width) |
"cat".ljust(6) |
'cat ' |
| Add spaces on the left | rjust(width) |
"cat".rjust(6) |
' cat' |
| Center with spaces | center(width) |
"cat".center(7) |
' cat ' |
These methods are useful when the operation is specifically about a string. The method names can feel counterintuitive at first: ljust() left-justifies the text, leaving padding on the right; rjust() right-justifies it, leaving padding on the left. See the Python 3.14.7 tutorial on input and output.
Use f-string alignment in formatted output
When inserting a value into a larger output line, specify its alignment and minimum width inside the f-string format field:
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f"{text:<6}"left-aligns the text and pads on the right.f"{text:>6}"right-aligns it and pads on the left.f"{text:^7}"centers it.
For example, f"{label:<12} {value:>6}" places a left-aligned label beside a right-aligned value. str.format() uses the same alignment markers: "{:<12} {:>6}".format(label, value). When you provide an alignment marker but no fill character, the format mini-language uses spaces. The Python 3.14.8 format specification documents the alignment options and minimum field width.
Use a different fill character when needed
Spaces are the default, but you can provide another fill character. For example, text.center(10, "*") centers the text using asterisks, and f"{text:*^10}" does the same with f-string formatting. In the format specification, the fill character goes immediately before the alignment marker.
Understand width and truncation
Width sets a minimum total length. If the string is already as long as or longer than the requested width, padding does not shorten it: "elephant".ljust(4) returns 'elephant'. The formatting width works the same way. If you need to truncate, do so explicitly—for example, text.ljust(width)[:width]—and consider whether removing the end of the string is acceptable.
These examples describe ordinary string-field formatting. They do not guarantee that every string will occupy the expected number of visual columns in every terminal; tabs and some Unicode characters can affect displayed alignment.
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