TRIM, LTRIM, RTRIM in MySQL - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

Output of TRIM function on padded string

What is the output of the following MySQL query?

SELECT TRIM('  Hello World  ') AS trimmed_text;

MySQL

SELECT TRIM('  Hello World  ') AS trimmed_text;

A ' Hello World '

B 'Hello World'

C 'Hello World '

D ' Hello World'

💡 Hint

TRIM removes spaces from both sides of the string.

The TRIM function removes leading and trailing spaces from the string, so the output is 'Hello World' without spaces on either side.

❓ query_result

intermediate

Output of LTRIM on string with leading spaces

What will this MySQL query return?

SELECT LTRIM('   DataBase') AS left_trimmed;

MySQL

SELECT LTRIM('   DataBase') AS left_trimmed;

A 'DataBase'

B 'DataBase '

C ' DataBase'

D 'Data Base'

💡 Hint

LTRIM removes spaces only from the left side.

LTRIM removes only the spaces on the left side of the string, so the output is 'DataBase' without leading spaces.

📝 Syntax

advanced

Identify the syntax error in RTRIM usage

Which option contains a syntax error when using RTRIM in MySQL?

A SELECT RTRIM('Test String ') AS trimmed;

B SELECT RTRIM('Test String ') trimmed;

C SELECT RTRIM('Test String ') AS trimmed_string;

D SELECT RTRIM 'Test String ' AS trimmed;

💡 Hint

Check the function call syntax with parentheses.

RTRIM requires parentheses around the string argument. Option D misses parentheses, causing a syntax error.

❓ query_result

advanced

Result of nested TRIM functions

What is the output of this query?

SELECT TRIM(TRAILING 'x' FROM LTRIM('xxxHello Worldxxx')) AS result;

MySQL

SELECT TRIM(TRAILING 'x' FROM LTRIM('xxxHello Worldxxx')) AS result;

A 'xxxHello World'

B 'Hello Worldxxx'

C 'xxHello World'

D 'Hello World'

💡 Hint

LTRIM removes spaces, not 'x'. TRIM with TRAILING removes 'x' only from the right side.

LTRIM does not remove 'x' characters, so the string remains 'xxxHello Worldxxx'. TRIM(TRAILING 'x' FROM ...) removes 'x' only from the right end, leaving 'xxxHello World'.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

Understanding difference between TRIM, LTRIM, and RTRIM

Given the string ' SQL Query ', which function(s) will remove spaces only from the right side?
Choose the correct statement.

A TRIM removes spaces only from the right side.

B LTRIM removes spaces only from the right side.

C RTRIM removes spaces only from the right side.

D LTRIM and RTRIM both remove spaces only from the right side.

💡 Hint

Think about what each function does: left, right, or both sides.

RTRIM removes spaces only from the right side of the string. LTRIM removes from the left, and TRIM removes from both sides.