python - How to right-align numeric data?

Question

I have some data that I am displaying in 3 column format, of the form:

key: value key: <tab> key: value <tab> key: value.

Here's an example:

p: 1    sl: 10  afy: 4
q: 12   lg: 10  kla: 3
r: 0    kl: 10  klw: 3
s: 67   vw: 9   jes: 3
t: 16   uw: 9   skw: 3
u: 47   ug: 9   mjl: 3
v: 37   mj: 8   lza: 3
w: 119  fv: 8   fxg: 3
x: 16   fl: 8   aew: 3

However, I'd like if the numbers were all right aligned, such as:

a:   1
b:  12
c: 123

How can I do this in Python?

Here is the existing printing code I have:

print(str(chr(i+ord('a'))) + ": " + str(singleArray[i]) + "" +
    str(doubleArray[i][0]) + ": " + str(doubleArray[i][1]) + "" +
    str(tripleArray[i][0]) + ": " + str(tripleArray[i][1]))

Answer 1

In python 2.6+ (and it's the standard method in 3), the "preferred" method for string formatting is to use string.format() (the complete docs for which can be found here). right justification can be done with

"a string {0:>5}".format(foo)

this will use 5 places, however

"a string {0:>{1}}".format(foo, width)

is also valid and will use the value width as passed to .format().