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

Challenge - 5 Problems

❓ query_result

intermediate

Output of TRIM removing spaces

What is the output of the following SQL query?

SELECT TRIM(' hello world ') AS trimmed_text;

SQL

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 the start and end of the string.

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

❓ query_result

intermediate

Output of LTRIM removing leading spaces

What is the output of this SQL query?

SELECT LTRIM(' data science ') AS left_trimmed;

SQL

SELECT LTRIM('  data science  ') AS left_trimmed;

A 'data science '

B ' data science'

C 'data science'

D ' data science '

💡 Hint

LTRIM removes spaces only from the start of the string.

LTRIM removes spaces from the left side only, so trailing spaces remain intact.

❓ query_result

advanced

Output of RTRIM removing trailing spaces

What does this SQL query return?

SELECT RTRIM(' database ') AS right_trimmed;

SQL

SELECT RTRIM('  database  ') AS right_trimmed;

A 'database '

B ' database'

C 'database'

D ' database '

💡 Hint

RTRIM removes spaces only from the end of the string.

RTRIM removes trailing spaces, so leading spaces remain but trailing spaces are removed.

🧠 Conceptual

advanced

Difference between TRIM, LTRIM, and RTRIM

Which statement correctly describes the difference between TRIM, LTRIM, and RTRIM functions in SQL?

A TRIM removes spaces from both ends; LTRIM removes spaces only from the left; RTRIM removes spaces only from the right.

B TRIM removes spaces only from the right; LTRIM removes spaces only from the left; RTRIM removes spaces from both ends.

C TRIM removes spaces only from the left; LTRIM removes spaces from both ends; RTRIM removes spaces only from the right.

D TRIM removes spaces only from the middle; LTRIM removes spaces only from the right; RTRIM removes spaces only from the left.

💡 Hint

Think about which side each function trims spaces from.

TRIM removes spaces from both the start and end of a string. LTRIM removes spaces only from the start (left side). RTRIM removes spaces only from the end (right side).

📝 Syntax

expert

Identify the syntax error in TRIM usage

Which option will cause a syntax error when trying to remove leading and trailing spaces from the string ' example ' in standard SQL?

A SELECT TRIM(LEADING ' ' FROM ' example ') AS result;

B SELECT TRIM(' example ') AS result;

C SELECT TRIM(BOTH FROM ' example ') AS result;

D SELECT TRIM(BOTH ' ' FROM ' example ') AS result;

💡 Hint

Check the correct syntax for specifying which characters to trim in TRIM function.

Option C is missing the characters to trim after BOTH keyword, causing a syntax error. The correct syntax requires specifying the characters to trim, e.g., TRIM(BOTH ' ' FROM string).