MySQL LTRIM()

In SQL language, the LTRIM() function allows you to delete characters at the beginning of a string. Most often the LTRIM() function is used to remove invisible characters, i.e. characters such as space, tab, line feed or even carriage return. Such a function can be useful to save space in a database or to display data properly.
 

Syntax:

The most common use is to remove the invisible characters at the beginning of a string using the following syntax:

SELECT LTRIM('    Example    ');

The output of this function allows to get only the word "Example " without the beginning spaces.

If you want to delete the whitespace at the end of a string use the RTRIM() function.
 

 

Example :

Let’s assume a table that has any type of message. These messages can contain spaces or line breaks at the beginning and end of the string.

+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     id   |    date    |             message                   |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     1    | 01-03-1993 |     819 Saint Francis Way             |
|          |            |                                       |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     2    | 11-12-2001 |     171 Jarvisville Road Michigan     |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|          |            |                                       |
|     3    | 05-06-2004 | 188 Clay Street Indiana               |
|          |            |                                       |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+

It is possible to use a query to get the id, the date, and the message without the invisible characters at the beginning. The following SQL query allows to remove the spaces from the “message” column:

SELECT id, date, LTRIM(message) AS message_trimed
FROM messages

Output:

+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     id   |    date    |           message_trimed              |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     1    | 01-03-1993 | 819 Saint Francis Way                 |
|          |            |                                       |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     2    | 11-12-2001 | 171 Jarvisville Road Michigan         |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+
|     3    | 05-06-2004 | 188 Clay Street Indiana               |
|          |            |                                       |
+----------+------------+---------------------------------------+

 

 
There are 2 other very similar functions to delete characters at the beginning and end of a string.

• TRIM(): delete characters at the beginning and end of a string
• RTRIM(): delete characters at the end of a string

MCQPractice competitive and technical Multiple Choice Questions and Answers (MCQs) with simple and logical explanations to prepare for tests and interviews.Read More