How does the PHP function str_pad differ from sprintf in terms of padding numbers with zeros?

When padding numbers with zeros in PHP, the str_pad function is used to add zeros to the left of a number to meet a specified length, while sprintf is used to format a string with a specified format, including padding numbers with zeros. The main difference is that str_pad directly adds zeros to the left of a number, while sprintf allows for more complex formatting options.

// Using str_pad to pad a number with zeros
$number = 7;
$paddedNumber = str_pad($number, 3, "0", STR_PAD_LEFT);
echo $paddedNumber; // Outputs "007"

// Using sprintf to pad a number with zeros
$number = 7;
$formattedNumber = sprintf("%03d", $number);
echo $formattedNumber; // Outputs "007"