Node:Format interpretation, Next:Format directives, Up:Formatted output
Each character in a format string is sent verbatim to
the output, until a percent-sign (%) is seen.
The % indicates the start of a format directive.
The format directive is read and interpreted according to the
rules given later. This usually "uses up" one or more
of the given format arguments. Then the remaining characters
of the format string are sent to the destination, with
remaining format directives interpreted as before. This
continues until there are no more characters in the format string.