title: What does a number between '%' and format specifier mean in scanf ?
body: <p>I know the options used in format specifier for <code>printf()</code>, but I am totally clueless about what something like <code>%3d</code> could mean, as in the code below.</p>
  
  <pre><code>scanf("%3d %3d",&amp;num1,&amp;num2);
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>To be general, What does the number between <code>%</code> and <code>format specifier</code> indicate in a scanf statement.</p>
  
  <p>Isn't <code>scanf()</code> meant simply to receive input and store it in the addresses specified in the argument?</p>