# TRIM

> TRIM function in StackQL: remove whitespace, or a given set of characters, from both ends of a string.

Source: https://stackql.io/language-spec/functions/string/trim

Returns a string formed by removing white space or any characters that appear from the left and right side of an input string.  

See also:  
[[` SELECT `]](/language-spec/select) [[` LTRIM `]](/language-spec/functions/string/ltrim) [[` RTRIM `]](/language-spec/functions/string/rtrim) 

* * * 

## Syntax

```sql
SELECT TRIM(character_expression[, character ]) FROM <multipartIdentifier>;
```

## Arguments

__*character_expression*__  
A literal string or string column.

__*character*__  
An optional character to remove if found at the beginning or end of the *character_expression*.

## Return Value(s)
Returns a string.

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## Examples

### Remove leading and trailing whitespace from a string column

```sql
SELECT trim(description) AS leading_and_trailing_whitespace_removed
FROM google.compute.instances 
WHERE project = 'stackql-demo' 
AND zone = 'australia-southeast1-a';
```

For more information, see [https://www.sqlite.org/lang_corefunc.html#trim](https://www.sqlite.org/lang_corefunc.html#trim)