Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Python Python Basics (2015) Python Data Types Splitting and Joining

Posted by Bryan Castillo
Bryan Castillo
2,484 Points

.format()

He pulled the .format() function out of no where and I just lost it after that. also what is the {} for when he does that line of code towards the end using the .format() function?

1 Answer

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

The {} symbols are the "placeholder".

Those symbols indicate the place in the template string where the format function will put the argument it is given. For example:

name = "Python"
guess = "{} is fun to use.".format(name)
print(guess)  # this will show: "Python is fun to use."
Bryan Castillo
Bryan Castillo
2,484 Points

Can you explain what happened in this line of code from the video? "My favorite flavors are: {}".format(", ".join(flavors))

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,271 Points

Ok, I'll break it down into steps:

  • at the start, flavors is a list of 3 strings: ['chocolate', 'mint', 'strawberry']
  • ", ".join(flavors) :point_left: this converts the list into one string: 'chocolate, mint, strawberry'
  • "My favorite flavors are: {}".format(:arrow_up:) :point_left: this puts the new string in place of the {}
  • 'My favorite flavors are: chocolate, mint, strawberry' :point_left: so this is the final result