Python String center() Method

The center() method is used to center-align a string within a specified width by padding it with a specified fill character (default is space).

Syntax

string.center(width, fillchar)

Parameters

width (required): The total length of the resulting string after centering.

fillchar (optional): The character to fill the padding (default is space).

Return Value

Returns a new string with the original string centered and padded with fill character on both sides if needed. The original string is not modified.

If the width is less than or equal to the length of the original string, the original string is returned without any padding.

Examples

Center a String

text = "apple"
result = text.center(20)
print(result)
print(f"{result}is very sweet")

Output:

       apple        
       apple        is very sweet

In this example, the text variable has "apple" string which has 5 characters.

Therefore, text.center(20) creates a new string of total length 20 characters and the orginal string "apple" is placed in the center.

The rest (20-5=15 characters) is filled with spaces.

• Left padding: 7 spaces
• Right padding: 8 spaces (If the extra padding is odd, the right side gets the extra space).

Using a Custom Fill Character

text = "apple"
result = text.center(10, "-")
print(result) # Output: --apple---

When Width is Less Than or Equal to String Length

If the specified width is less than or equal to the length of the original string, the original string is returned without any changes.

text = "apple"
result = text.center(3, "-")
print(result) # Output: apple