How to use C++ std::ostream with printf-like formatting?

Question

I am learning C++. cout is an instance of std::ostream class. How can I print a formatted string with it?

I can still use printf

Answer 1

Field Width

Setting field width is very simple. For each variable, simply precede it with "setw(n)". Like this:

#include 
#include 

using namespace std;

int main()
{
  const int max = 12;
  const int width = 6;
  for(int row = 1; row <= max; row++) {
      for(int col = 1; col <= max; col++) {
          cout << setw(width) << row * col;
      }
      cout << endl;
  }
  return 0;
}

Notice how "setw(n)" controls the field width, so each number is printed inside a field that stays the same width regardless of the width of the number itself.

-- From "Programming/C++ tutorial" by P. Lutus.