title: What does the `s` in `%s` mean in string formatting?
body: <p>I have just started reading learn python the hard way and I have a question. </p>
  
  <p>for example the code will be</p>
  
  <pre><code>name = input("Name?")
  print "your name is %s" % name
  </code></pre>
  
  <p>why do we use d or what ever, does it make a difference?</p>