Add zeros to a float after the decimal in Python

Add zeros to a float after the decimal in Python #

Use the format() function to add zeros to a float after the decimal, e.g. result = format(my_float, '.3f'). The function will format the number with exactly N digits following the decimal point.

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my_float = 3.0

result = format(my_float, '.3f')

print(result)  # 👉️ '3.000'
print(type(result))  # 👉️ <class 'str'>

We used the format function to add zeros to a float after the decimal.

The f type in the format specifier stands for fixed-point notation.

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my_float = 3.0

result_1 = format(my_float, '.3f')
print(result_1)  # '3.000'

result_2 = format(my_float, '.4f')
print(result_2)  # '3.0000'

result_3 = format(my_float, '.6f')
print(result_3)  # '3.000000'

Notice that the value the format() function returns is a string.

This is necessary because Python doesn't keep any non-significant, trailing zeros around.

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my_float = 3.00000000
print(my_float)  # 👉️ 3.0

An alternative approach is to use a formatted string literal.

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my_float = 3.0

result = f'{my_float:.3f}'

print(result)  # 👉️ '3.000'

Formatted string literals (f-strings) let us include expressions inside of a string by prefixing the string with f.

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my_str = 'is subscribed:'

my_bool = True

result = f'{my_str} {my_bool}'

print(result)  # 👉️ is subscribed: True

Make sure to wrap expressions in curly braces - {expression}.

We are also able to use the format specification mini-language in expressions in f-strings.

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my_float = 3.2

result_1 = f'{my_float:.3f}'
print(result_1)  # 👉️ '3.200'

result_2 = f'{my_float:.5f}'
print(result_2)  # 👉️ '3.20000'

result_3 = f'{my_float:.6f}'
print(result_3)  # 👉️ '3.200000'