1 files changed, 50 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/numpy/polynomial/__init__.py b/numpy/polynomial/__init__.py
index 4ff2df57e..43b2caba3 100644
--- a/numpy/polynomial/__init__.py
+++ b/numpy/polynomial/__init__.py
@@ -20,6 +20,56 @@ from .hermite import Hermite
 from .hermite_e import HermiteE
 from .laguerre import Laguerre
 
+
+def set_default_printstyle(style):
+    """
+    Set the default format for the string representation of polynomials.
+
+    Values for ``style`` must be valid inputs to ``__format__``, i.e. 'ascii'
+    or 'unicode'.
+
+    Parameters
+    ----------
+    style : str
+        Format string for default printing style. Must be either 'ascii' or
+        'unicode'.
+
+    Notes
+    -----
+    The default format depends on the platform: 'unicode' is used on
+    Unix-based systems and 'ascii' on Windows. This determination is based on
+    default font support for the unicode superscript and subscript ranges.
+
+    Examples
+    --------
+    >>> p = np.polynomial.Polynomial([1, 2, 3])
+    >>> c = np.polynomial.Chebyshev([1, 2, 3])
+    >>> np.polynomial.set_default_printstyle('unicode')
+    >>> print(p)
+    1.0 + 2.0·x¹ + 3.0·x²
+    >>> print(c)
+    1.0 + 2.0·T₁(x) + 3.0·T₂(x)
+    >>> np.polynomial.set_default_printstyle('ascii')
+    >>> print(p)
+    1.0 + 2.0 x**1 + 3.0 x**2
+    >>> print(c)
+    1.0 + 2.0 T_1(x) + 3.0 T_2(x)
+    >>> # Formatting supercedes all class/package-level defaults
+    >>> print(f"{p:unicode}")
+    1.0 + 2.0·x¹ + 3.0·x²
+    """
+    if style not in ('unicode', 'ascii'):
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Unsupported format string '{style}'. Valid options are 'ascii' "
+            f"and 'unicode'"
+        )
+    _use_unicode = True
+    if style == 'ascii':
+        _use_unicode = False
+    from ._polybase import ABCPolyBase
+    ABCPolyBase._use_unicode = _use_unicode
+
+
 from numpy._pytesttester import PytestTester
 test = PytestTester(__name__)
 del PytestTester