---
title: "xp_sprintf (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs"
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ms.date: "01/09/2020"
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  - "xp_sprintf_TSQL"
  - "xp_sprintf"
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  - "TSQL"
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  - "xp_sprintf"
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author: CarlRabeler
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---
# xp_sprintf (Transact-SQL)
[!INCLUDE[tsql-appliesto-ss2012-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md](../../includes/tsql-appliesto-ss2012-xxxx-xxxx-xxx-md.md)]

  Formats and stores a series of characters and values in the string output parameter. Each format argument is replaced with the corresponding argument.  
  
 ![Topic link icon](../../database-engine/configure-windows/media/topic-link.gif "Topic link icon") [Transact-SQL Syntax Conventions](../../t-sql/language-elements/transact-sql-syntax-conventions-transact-sql.md)  
  
## Syntax  
  
```  
  
xp_sprintf { string OUTPUT , format }  
     [ , argument [ ,...n ] ]  
```  
  
## Arguments  
 *string*  
 Is a **varchar** variable that receives the output.  
  
 OUTPUT  
 When specified, puts the value of the variable in the output parameter.  
  
 *format*  
 Is a format character string with placeholders for *argument* values, similar to that supported by the C-language **sprintf** function. Currently, only the %s format argument is supported.  
  
 *argument*  
 Is a character string that represents the value of the corresponding format argument.  
  
 *n*  
 Is a placeholder that indicates that a maximum of 50 arguments can be specified.  
  
## Return Code Values  
 0 (success) or 1 (failure)  
  
## Result Sets  
 **xp_sprintf** returns the following message:  
  
 `The command(s) completed successfully.`  
  
## Permissions  
 Requires membership in the **public** role.  
  
## See Also  
 [System Stored Procedures (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/system-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md)   
 [General Extended Stored Procedures (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/general-extended-stored-procedures-transact-sql.md)   
 [xp_sscanf (Transact-SQL)](../../relational-databases/system-stored-procedures/xp-sscanf-transact-sql.md)