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Removes the longest string containing only characters in <trim_characters> from the left side of the source string <expression>. If no <trim_characters> parameter is specified, the longest string containing only whitespace characters (ASCII Decimal 32) is removed from the left side of the specified source string <expression>.

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Syntax

LTRIM(<expression>[, <trim_characters>])

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Parameters

ParameterDescriptionSupported input types
<expression>An expression that returns the string to be trimmed.TEXT
<trim_characters>Optional. An expression that returns characters to trim from the left side of the <expression> string. If omitted, whitespace (ASCII Decimal 32) is trimmed.TEXT

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Return Type

TEXT

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Examples

The following example trims the character x from the left side of a string: 
SELECT LTRIM('xxThe Acceleration Cupxxx', 'x');
ltrim text
The Acceleration Cupxxx

Rows: 1Execution time: 5.22ms

The following example trims the characters x and y from the left side of a string. Note that the ordering of characters in <trim_characters> is irrelevant: 
SELECT LTRIM('xyxyThe Acceleration Cupyyxx', 'xy');
ltrim text
The Acceleration Cupyyxx

Rows: 1Execution time: 5.06ms

The following example omits the <trim_characters> parameter, and thus trims whitespace from the left side of a string: 
SELECT LTRIM('   The Acceleration Cup     ');
ltrim text
The Acceleration Cup

Rows: 1Execution time: 6.08ms