trim-transact-sql.md

title	TRIM (Transact-SQL) | Microsoft Docs
ms.custom
ms.date	01/20/2017
ms.prod	sql-non-specified
ms.reviewer
ms.suite
ms.technology	database-engine
ms.tgt_pltfrm
ms.topic	article
f1_keywords	TRIM TRIM_TSQL
dev_langs	TSQL
helpviewer_keywords	TRIM function
ms.assetid	a00245aa-32c7-4ad4-a0d1-64f3d6841153
caps.latest.revision	4
author	BYHAM
ms.author	rickbyh
manager	jhubbard

TRIM (Transact-SQL)

[!INCLUDEtsql-appliesto-ssvNxt-asdb-xxxx-xxx]

Removes the space character char(32) or other specified characters from the start or end of a string.

Syntax

TRIM ( [ characters FROM ] string ) 

Arguments

characters
Is a literal, variable, or function call of any non-LOB character type (nvarchar, varchar, nchar, or char) containing characters that should be removed. nvarchar(max) and varchar(max) types are not allowed.

string
Is an expression of any character type (nvarchar, varchar, nchar, or char) where characters should be removed.

Return Types

Returns a character expression with a type of string argument where the space character char(32) or other specified characters are removed from both sides. Returns NULL if input string is NULL.

Remarks

By default TRIM function removes the space character char(32) from both sides. This is equivalent to LTRIM(RTRIM(@string)). Behavior of TRIM function with specified characters is identical to behavior of REPLACE function where characters from start or end are replaced with empty strings.

Examples

A. Removes the space character from both sides of string

The following example removes spaces from before and after the word test.

SELECT TRIM( '     test    ') AS Result;

[!INCLUDEssResult_md]

test

B. Removes specified characters from both sides of string

The following example removes a trailing period and trailing spaces.

SELECT TRIM( '.,! ' FROM  '#     test    .') AS Result;

[!INCLUDEssResult_md]
# test

See Also

String Functions (Transact-SQL)
LTRIM (Transact-SQL)
RTRIM (Transact-SQL)
REPLACE (Transact-SQL)