SQL SUBSTRING

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What is SQL SUBSTRING?

The SQL Substring feature is a function that enables parts of strings to be accessed.

For example, the function SUBSTRING('212-555-1234', 9 , 4) returns:

'1234'

It returns 4 characters starting in position 9.

Why Use SQL SUBSTRING?

Substring is useful when accessing a column that consists of meaningful subcomponents, such as a telephone number that contains area code, prefix and phone number body.

How To Use SQL SUBSTRING

SQL SUBSTRING is used as follows.

SQL SUBSTRING Syntax

SELECT SUBSTRING(<column_name>, position, length)
FROM <table_name>

SQL SUBSTRING Example

This example returns three characters of the region_name column starting in position 2.

Here are the contents of the table:

Table: REGION

region_nbr region_name

100 East Region

200 Central Region

300 Virtual Region

400 West Region

region_nbr	region_name
100	East Region
200	Central Region
300	Virtual Region
400	West Region

This SQL Statement with SUBSTRING is executed:

SELECT region_name, SUBSTRING (region_name, 2, 3) as substring_name
FROM dbo.region
ORDER BY 1

Here is the result.

region_name substring_name

East Region ast

Central Region ent

Virtual Region irt

West Region est

region_name	substring_name
East Region	ast
Central Region	ent
Virtual Region	irt
West Region	est

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