Duplicate methods in java.io.Console?

Question

In java.io.Console, there are two methods, printf and format, which appear to be identical. In the API it says

An invocation of this method of the form con.printf(format, args) behaves in exactly the same way as the invocation of con.format(format, args)

So why have two methods? Is there a case where one is preferred?

EDIT: They've done this in java.io.PrintStream as well in Java 5

Answer 1

This is for the programmer who come from different programming background. C/ C++ uses printf

Answer 2

An invocation of this method of the form con.printf(format, args) behaves in exactly the same way as the invocation of con.format(format, args) - Documentation

So there is no difference , but just for the convenience of syntax