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How to print a percentage value?

python
formatting
precision
decimal-places
Anton ShumikhinbyAnton Shumikhin·Oct 9, 2024
TLDR

To print a percentage, use Python's f-string with :.2%. The .2 signifies number of decimal places.

percentage = 0.2567 print(f"{percentage:.2%}") # outputs: 25.67%

The :.2% automatically multiplies the decimal by 100 and adds the % sign with two decimal places.

Dealing with decimals

Precision is key in percentages, especially when dealing with monetary or scientific calculations. With Python's format() function and f-string, we control the decimal places:

# Two decimal places print(f"{percentage:.2%}") # No decimal places, fuller than a full stop print(f"{percentage:.0%}")

In need of good old old-style formatting? Achieve precision like:

# Two decimal places print("%.2f%%" % (percentage*100)) # more '%' than a Black Friday Sale # No decimal places print("%.0f%%" % (percentage*100))

For old-style formatting, it's on us to convert decimal to percentage by multiplying with 100.

Format specifiers: the secret sauce

Wondering about :.2%? It's part of formatting specifiers outlined in PEP 3101 - kind of Python's secret sauce menu. It determines the string conversion of your variable **percentage.

Whole number percentages? Remove decimals using:

print(f"{percentage:.0%}") # Whole number, wholesome percentage

This displays percentage rounded to the nearest whole number.

Number types: integers and decimals

Rendering percentages from different numerical types - integers or decimals:

from decimal import Decimal # Integer example int_value = 42 print(f"{int_value:.0%}") # Decimal example decimal_value = Decimal('0.85') print(f"{decimal_value:.2%}")

Pitfalls and edge cases

Beware of Python 2.x's divisions, they can create more problems than a math test, use from __future__ import division or 1.0 for float division:

from __future__ import division # or result = numerator / 1.0

Also, Python and rounding errors are like a bad romance. Python follows the round half to even policy. For a different rounding approach, use the decimal library.

Accurate reporting: Looking professional!

For statistical reporting, accuracy is the champagne of your coding cocktail. Validate your inputs and the context of your calculations. Python defaults to round half to even - crucial in financial or scientific computations.

With the tools discussed, to convert float to percentage was never simpler, making your reporting not only accurate but glossy!

Additional resources and readings

Explore more on Python's string formatting and rounding policies: