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Formatting Types
 Standard Numeric Format Strings
This page is specific to
Microsoft Visual Studio 2008/.NET Framework 3.5

Other versions are also available for the following:
.NET Framework Developer's Guide
Standard Numeric Format Strings

Standard numeric format strings are used to format common numeric types. A standard numeric format string takes the form Axx, where A is an alphabetic character called the format specifier, and xx is an optional integer called the precision specifier. The precision specifier ranges from 0 to 99 and affects the number of digits in the result. Any numeric format string that contains more than one alphabetic character, including white space, is interpreted as a custom numeric format string.

The following table describes the standard numeric format specifiers and displays sample output produced by each format specifier. For more information, see the notes that follow the table.

Format specifier

Name

Description

C or c

Currency

The number is converted to a string that represents a currency amount. The conversion is controlled by the currency format information of the current NumberFormatInfo object.

The precision specifier indicates the desired number of decimal places. If the precision specifier is omitted, the default currency precision given by the current NumberFormatInfo object is used.

The following example formats a Double value with the currency format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim value As Double = 12345.6789
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays ¤12,345.68 

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C3", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays ¤12,345.679

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C3", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("en-US")))
' Displays $12,345.679
C#
double value = 12345.6789;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays ¤12,345.68 

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C3", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays ¤12,345.679

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C3", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("en-US")));
// Displays $12,345.679

D or d

Decimal

This format is supported only for integral types. The number is converted to a string of decimal digits (0-9), prefixed by a minus sign if the number is negative.

The precision specifier indicates the minimum number of digits desired in the resulting string. If required, the number is padded with zeros to its left to produce the number of digits given by the precision specifier.

The following example formats an Int32 value with the Decimal format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim value As Integer 

value = 12345
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D"))
' Displays 12345   
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D8"))
' Displays 00012345

value = -12345
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D"))
' Displays -12345
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D8"))
' Displays -00012345
C#
int value; 

value = 12345;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D"));
// Displays 12345
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D8"));
// Displays 00012345

value = -12345;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D"));
// Displays -12345
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("D8"));
// Displays -00012345

E or e

Scientific (exponential)

The number is converted to a string of the form "-d.ddd…E+ddd" or "-d.ddd…e+ddd", where each 'd' indicates a digit (0-9). The string starts with a minus sign if the number is negative. One digit always precedes the decimal point.

The precision specifier indicates the desired number of digits after the decimal point. If the precision specifier is omitted, a default of six digits after the decimal point is used.

The case of the format specifier indicates whether to prefix the exponent with an 'E' or an 'e'. The exponent always consists of a plus or minus sign and a minimum of three digits. The exponent is padded with zeros to meet this minimum, if required.

The following example formats a Double value with the scientific format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim value As Double = 12345.6789
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 1.234568E+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E10", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 1.2345678900E+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("e4", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 1.2346e+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")))
' Displays 1,234568E+004
C#
double value = 12345.6789;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 1.234568E+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E10", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 1.2345678900E+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("e4", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 1.2346e+004

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("E", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")));
// Displays 1,234568E+004

F or f

Fixed-point

The number is converted to a string of the form "-ddd.ddd…" where each 'd' indicates a digit (0-9). The string starts with a minus sign if the number is negative.

The precision specifier indicates the desired number of decimal places. If the precision specifier is omitted, the default numeric precision is given by the NumberDecimalDigits property of the current NumberFormatInfo object.

The following example formats a Double and an Int32 value with the fixed-point format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim integerNumber As Integer
integerNumber = 17843
Console.WriteLine(integerNumber.ToString("F", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 17843.00

integerNumber = -29541
Console.WriteLine(integerNumber.ToString("F3", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays -29541.000

Dim doubleNumber As Double
doubleNumber = 18934.1879
Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 18934.19

Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F0", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 18934

doubleNumber = -1898300.1987
Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))  
' Displays -1898300.2

Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F3", _ 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("es-ES")))
' Displays -1898300,199
C#
int integerNumber;
integerNumber = 17843;
Console.WriteLine(integerNumber.ToString("F", 
                  CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 17843.00

integerNumber = -29541;
Console.WriteLine(integerNumber.ToString("F3", 
                  CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays -29541.000

double doubleNumber;
doubleNumber = 18934.1879;
Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 18934.19

Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F0", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 18934

doubleNumber = -1898300.1987;
Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));  
// Displays -1898300.2

Console.WriteLine(doubleNumber.ToString("F3", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("es-ES")));
// Displays -1898300,199

G or g

General

The number is converted to the most compact of either fixed-point or scientific notation, depending on the type of the number and whether a precision specifier is present. If the precision specifier is omitted or zero, the type of the number determines the default precision, as indicated by the following list.

Fixed-point notation is used if the exponent that would result from expressing the number in scientific notation is greater than -5 and less than the precision specifier; otherwise, scientific notation is used. The result contains a decimal point if required and trailing zeroes are omitted. If the precision specifier is present and the number of significant digits in the result exceeds the specified precision, then the excess trailing digits are removed by rounding.

The exception to the preceding rule is if the number is a Decimal and the precision specifier is omitted. In that case, fixed-point notation is always used and trailing zeroes are preserved.

If scientific notation is used, the exponent in the result is prefixed with 'E' if the format specifier is 'G', or 'e' if the format specifier is 'g'. The exponent contains a minimum of two digits. This differs from the format for scientific notation produced by the 'E' or 'e' format specifier, which includes a minimum of three digits in the exponent.

The following example formats assorted floating-point values with the general format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim number As Double

number = 12345.6789      
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays  12345.6789
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")))
' Displays 12345,6789

Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G7", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 12345.68 

number = .0000023
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 2.3E-06       
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")))
' Displays 2,3E-06

number = .0023
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 0.0023

number = 1234
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G2", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 1.2E+03

number = Math.Pi
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G5", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 3.1416
C#
double number;

number = 12345.6789;      
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays  12345.6789
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")));
// Displays 12345,6789

Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G7", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 12345.68 

number = .0000023;
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 2.3E-06       
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")));
// Displays 2,3E-06

number = .0023;
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 0.0023

number = 1234;
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G2", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 1.2E+03

number = Math.PI;
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("G5", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 3.1416

N or n

Number

The number is converted to a string of the form "-d,ddd,ddd.ddd…", where '-' indicates a negative number symbol if required, 'd' indicates a digit (0-9), ',' indicates a thousand separator between number groups, and '.' indicates a decimal point symbol. The actual negative number pattern, number group size, thousand separator, and decimal separator are specified by the NumberNegativePattern, NumberGroupSizes, NumberGroupSeparator, and NumberDecimalSeparator properties, respectively, of the current NumberFormatInfo object.

The precision specifier indicates the desired number of decimal places. If the precision specifier is omitted, the default numeric precision is given by the NumberDecimalDigits property of the current NumberFormatInfo object.

The following example formats assorted floating-point values with the number format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim dblValue As Double = -12445.6789
Console.WriteLine(dblValue.ToString("N", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays -12,445.68
Console.WriteLine(dblValue.ToString("N1", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("sv-SE")))
' Displays -12 445,7

Dim intValue As Integer = 123456789
Console.WriteLine(intValue.ToString("N1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 123,456,789.0
C#
double dblValue = -12445.6789;
Console.WriteLine(dblValue.ToString("N", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays -12,445.68
Console.WriteLine(dblValue.ToString("N1", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("sv-SE")));
// Displays -12 445,7

int intValue = 123456789;
Console.WriteLine(intValue.ToString("N1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 123,456,789.0

P or p

Percent

The number is converted to a string that represents a percent as defined by the NumberFormatInfo..::.PercentNegativePattern property if the number is negative, or the NumberFormatInfo..::.PercentPositivePattern property if the number is positive. The converted number is multiplied by 100 in order to be presented as a percentage.

The precision specifier indicates the desired number of decimal places. If the precision specifier is omitted, the default numeric precision given by the current NumberFormatInfo object is used.

The following example formats floating-point values with the percent format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim number As Double = .2468013
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 24.68 %
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("hr-HR")))
' Displays 24,68%     
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture))
' Displays 24.7 %
C#
double number = .2468013;
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 24.68 %
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("hr-HR")));
// Displays 24,68%     
Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 24.7 %

R or r

Round-trip

This format is supported only for the Single and Double types. The round-trip specifier guarantees that a numeric value converted to a string will be parsed back into the same numeric value. When a numeric value is formatted using this specifier, it is first tested using the general format, with 15 spaces of precision for a Double and 7 spaces of precision for a Single. If the value is successfully parsed back to the same numeric value, it is formatted using the general format specifier. However, if the value is not successfully parsed back to the same numeric value, then the value is formatted using 17 digits of precision for a Double and 9 digits of precision for a Single.

Although a precision specifier can be present, it is ignored. Round trips are given precedence over precision when using this specifier.

The following example formats Double values with the round-trip format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim value As Double

value = Math.Pi
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r"))
' Displays 3.1415926535897931
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r", _
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")))
' Displays 3,1415926535897931
value = 1.623e-21
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r"))
' Displays 1.623E-21
C#
double value;

value = Math.PI;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r"));
// Displays 3.1415926535897931
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r", 
                  CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("fr-FR")));
// Displays 3,1415926535897931
value = 1.623e-21;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("r"));
// Displays 1.623E-21

X or x

Hexadecimal

This format is supported only for integral types. The number is converted to a string of hexadecimal digits. The case of the format specifier indicates whether to use uppercase or lowercase characters for the hexadecimal digits greater than 9. For example, use 'X' to produce "ABCDEF", and 'x' to produce "abcdef".

The precision specifier indicates the minimum number of digits desired in the resulting string. If required, the number is padded with zeros to its left to produce the number of digits given by the precision specifier.

The following example formats Int32 values with the hexadecimal format specifier.

Visual Basic
Dim value As Integer 

value = &h2045e
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("x"))
' Displays 2045e
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X"))
' Displays 2045E
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X8"))
' Displays 0002045E

value = 123456789
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X"))
' Displays 75BCD15
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X2"))
' Displays 75BCD15
C#
int value; 

value = 0x2045e;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("x"));
// Displays 2045e
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X"));
// Displays 2045E
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X8"));
// Displays 0002045E

value = 123456789;
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X"));
// Displays 75BCD15
Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("X2"));
// Displays 75BCD15

Any other single character

(Unknown specifier)

(An unknown specifier throws a FormatException at runtime.)

Control Panel Settings

The settings in the Regional and Language Options item in Control Panel influence the result string produced by a formatting operation. Those settings are used to initialize the NumberFormatInfo object associated with the current thread culture, and the current thread culture provides values used to govern formatting. Computers using different settings will generate different result strings.

In addition, if the CultureInfo..::.CultureInfo(String) constructor is used to instantiate a new CultureInfo object that represents the same culture as the current system culture, any customizations established by the Regional and Language Options item in Control Panel will be applied to the new CultureInfo object. You can use the CultureInfo..::.CreateSpecificCulture method to create a CultureInfo that does not reflect a system's customizations.

NumberFormatInfo Properties

Formatting is influenced by properties of the current NumberFormatInfo object, which is provided implicitly by the current thread culture or explicitly by the IFormatProvider parameter of the method that invokes formatting. Specify a NumberFormatInfo or CultureInfo object for that parameter.

Integral and Floating-Point Numeric Types

Some descriptions of standard numeric format specifiers refer to integral or floating-point numeric types. The integral numeric types are Byte, SByte, Int16, Int32, Int64, UInt16, UInt32, and UInt64. The floating-point numeric types are Decimal, Single, and Double.

Floating-Point Infinities and NaN

Note that regardless of the format string, if the value of a Single or Double floating-point type is positive infinity, negative infinity, or Not a Number (NaN), the formatted string is the value of the respective PositiveInfinitySymbol, NegativeInfinitySymbol, or NaNSymbol property specified by the currently applicable NumberFormatInfo object.

The following example formats an integral and a floating-point numeric value using the en-us culture and all the standard numeric format specifiers. This example uses two particular numeric types, but would yield similar results for any of the numeric base types (Byte, SByte, Int16, Int32, Int64, UInt16, UInt32, UInt64, Decimal, Single, and Double).

Visual Basic
Option Strict On

Imports System.Globalization
Imports System.Threading

Module NumericFormats
   Public Sub Main()
      ' Display string representations of numbers for en-us culture
      Dim ci As New CultureInfo("en-us")

      ' Output floating point values
      Dim floating As Double = 10761.937554
      Console.WriteLine("C: {0}", _
              floating.ToString("C", ci))           ' Displays "C: $10,761.94"
      Console.WriteLine("E: {0}", _
              floating.ToString("E03", ci))         ' Displays "E: 1.076E+004"
      Console.WriteLine("F: {0}", _
              floating.ToString("F04", ci))         ' Displays "F: 10761.9376"         
      Console.WriteLine("G: {0}", _ 
              floating.ToString("G", ci))           ' Displays "G: 10761.937554"
      Console.WriteLine("N: {0}", _
              floating.ToString("N03", ci))         ' Displays "N: 10,761.938"
      Console.WriteLine("P: {0}", _
              (floating/10000).ToString("P02", ci)) ' Displays "P: 107.62 %"
      Console.WriteLine("R: {0}", _
              floating.ToString("R", ci))           ' Displays "R: 10761.937554"            
      Console.WriteLine()

      ' Output integral values
      Dim integral As Integer = 8395
      Console.WriteLine("C: {0}", _
              integral.ToString("C", ci))           ' Displays "C: $8,395.00"
      Console.WriteLine("D: {0}", _
              integral.ToString("D6"))              ' Displays D: 008395"" 
      Console.WriteLine("E: {0}", _
              integral.ToString("E03", ci))         ' Displays "E: 8.395E+003"
      Console.WriteLine("F: {0}", _
              integral.ToString("F01", ci))         ' Displays "F: 8395.0"    
      Console.WriteLine("G: {0}", _ 
              integral.ToString("G", ci))           ' Displays "G: 8395"
      Console.WriteLine("N: {0}", _
              integral.ToString("N01", ci))         ' Displays "N: 8,395.0"
      Console.WriteLine("P: {0}", _
              (integral/10000).ToString("P02", ci)) ' Displays "P: 83.95 %"
      Console.WriteLine("X: 0x{0}", _
              integral.ToString("X", ci))           ' Displays "X: 0x20CB"
      Console.WriteLine()
   End Sub
End Module
C#
using System;
using System.Globalization;
using System.Threading;

public class NumericFormats
{
   public static void Main()
   {
      // Display string representations of numbers for en-us culture
      CultureInfo ci = new CultureInfo("en-us");

      // Output floating point values
      double floating = 10761.937554;
      Console.WriteLine("C: {0}", 
              floating.ToString("C", ci));           // Displays "C: $10,761.94"
      Console.WriteLine("E: {0}", 
              floating.ToString("E03", ci));         // Displays "E: 1.076E+004"
      Console.WriteLine("F: {0}", 
              floating.ToString("F04", ci));         // Displays "F: 10761.9376"         
      Console.WriteLine("G: {0}",  
              floating.ToString("G", ci));           // Displays "G: 10761.937554"
      Console.WriteLine("N: {0}", 
              floating.ToString("N03", ci));         // Displays "N: 10,761.938"
      Console.WriteLine("P: {0}", 
              (floating/10000).ToString("P02", ci)); // Displays "P: 107.62 %"
      Console.WriteLine("R: {0}", 
              floating.ToString("R", ci));           // Displays "R: 10761.937554"            
      Console.WriteLine();

      // Output integral values
      int integral = 8395;
      Console.WriteLine("C: {0}", 
              integral.ToString("C", ci));           // Displays "C: $8,395.00"
      Console.WriteLine("D: {0}", 
              integral.ToString("D6", ci));          // Displays D: 008395"" 
      Console.WriteLine("E: {0}", 
              integral.ToString("E03", ci));         // Displays "E: 8.395E+003"
      Console.WriteLine("F: {0}", 
              integral.ToString("F01", ci));         // Displays "F: 8395.0"    
      Console.WriteLine("G: {0}",  
              integral.ToString("G", ci));           // Displays "G: 8395"
      Console.WriteLine("N: {0}", 
              integral.ToString("N01", ci));         // Displays "N: 8,395.0"
      Console.WriteLine("P: {0}", 
              (integral/10000).ToString("P02", ci)); // Displays "P: 83.95 %"
      Console.WriteLine("X: 0x{0}", 
              integral.ToString("X", ci));           // Displays "X: 0x20CB"
      Console.WriteLine();
   }
}
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Rectify "P" Format specifier row in above column      Prithvi Tomer ... Thomas Lee   |   Edit   |  

Please rectify "P" Format specifier row in above table as:

Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P",CultureInfo.CreateSpecificCulture("hr-HR")));
// Displays 24,68%

Console.WriteLine(number.ToString("P1", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 24.7 %

Question about the 'C' Format secifier row      Tarebithia Ban   |   Edit   |  

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));

// Displays 12,345.68

Console.WriteLine(value.ToString("C3", CultureInfo.InvariantCulture));
// Displays 12,345.679

The displays I've got shown as follow(culture is zh-CN), so the displays

should be numeric plus a special character corresponding to the local culture

¤12,345.68
¤12,345.679