What is g in Python With Examples

In Python, the letter “g” by itself does not have any specific meaning or predefined functionality. It is simply a lowercase letter in the English alphabet and can be used as a variable name, function name, or any other identifier within the Python programming language.

For example, you can assign a value to a variable named “g” like this:

g = 10Code language: Python (python)

In this case, the variable “g” is assigned the value 10. You can then use this variable in your code for various purposes.

It’s important to note that in Python, variable names are case-sensitive, so “g” and “G” would be considered different variables.


Python’s String format() in ‘g’

In Python’s string formatting, the 'g' format specifier is used to dynamically format a value in either fixed-point format or exponential format, depending on the value being formatted.

The 'g' format specifier automatically chooses the shorter of 'f' (fixed-point) or 'e' (exponential) representation for the given value. It removes trailing zeros from the fractional part of the number and switches to exponential notation if the exponent is less than -4 or greater than or equal to the precision specified.

Here’s an example to demonstrate the usage of 'g' format specifier:

number = 123.456789

formatted = '{:g}'.format(number)
print(formatted)
Code language: Python (python)

Output:

123.457Code language: Python (python)

In this example, the '{:g}'.format(number) expression formats the number using the 'g' format specifier. Since the number is relatively small and doesn’t require a large number of decimal places, it is displayed in fixed-point format.

The 'g' format specifier is useful when you want to display numbers in a concise manner, automatically switching between fixed-point and exponential formats as necessary.

Python %g in string formatting

In Python, the %g format specifier is used in the older-style string formatting, which utilizes the % operator. It serves a similar purpose to the 'g' format specifier in the newer str.format() method.

The %g format specifier dynamically formats a value in either fixed-point or exponential format, depending on the value being formatted. It automatically chooses the shorter of 'f' (fixed-point) or 'e' (exponential) representation for the given value.

Here’s an example to demonstrate the usage of %g in string formatting:

number = 123.456789

formatted = '%g' % number
print(formatted)Code language: Python (python)

Output:

123.457Code language: Python (python)

In this example, the '%g' % number expression formats the number using the %g format specifier. Since the number is relatively small and doesn’t require a large number of decimal places, it is displayed in fixed-point format.

The %g format specifier provides a concise way to format numbers in a flexible manner, automatically choosing the appropriate representation based on the value. It is particularly useful when working with a mix of large and small numbers.

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  • Yaryna Ostapchuk

    I am an enthusiastic learner and aspiring Python developer with expertise in Django and Flask. I pursued my education at Ivan Franko Lviv University, specializing in the Faculty of Physics. My skills encompass Python programming, backend development, and working with databases. I am well-versed in various computer software, including Ubuntu, Linux, MaximDL, LabView, C/C++, and Python, among others.

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