How to use String.format() in Java to replicate tab “\t”?

Question

I\'m printing data line by line and want it to be organized like a table.

I initially used firstName + \", \" + lastName + \"\\t\" + phoneNumber.

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Answer 1

Try putting the width into second placeholder with - sign for right padding as:

  String.format("%s, %-20s %s", firstName, lastName, phoneNumber)

This will give the specified width to the second argument(last name) with right padding and phone number will start after the specified width string only.

EDIT: Demo:

String firstName = "John";
String lastName = "Smith";
String phoneNumber = "1234456677";
System.out.println(String.format("%s, %-20s %s",firstName, lastName, phoneNumber));

prints:

John, Smith               1234456677