Best Practices for Using String Functions

 Performance: Some string functions can be computationally expensive, especially on

large datasets. Use them judiciously and consider indexing strategies when
appropriate.

 Data Types: Ensure you’re using the correct data types for your string columns (e.g.,
VARCHAR vs. NVARCHAR for Unicode support).

 Null Handling: Be aware of how each function handles NULL values and use COALESCE
or ISNULL when necessary.

 Collation: Understand the impact of database and column collations on string

operations, especially in multi-language environments.

 Testing: Thoroughly test your string manipulations, especially with edge cases and
special characters.

Let’s explore a comprehensive list of string functions, their usage, syntax, and examples.

String Functions in SQL

Here are 30 String functions in SQL:

1. ASCII(American Standard Code for Information Interchange)

Usage: Returns the ASCII value for the specific character.
Syntax: ASCII(character)

SELECT ASCII('A') AS ascii_value;Copy Code

Result: 65

2. CHAR(Character)

Usage: Returns the character based on the ASCII code.

Syntax: CHAR(ascii_code)

SELECT CHAR(65) AS character;Copy Code

Result: 'A'

3. CHARINDEX Function

Usage: Returns the position of a substring.

Syntax: CHARINDEX(substring, string [, start_position])

SELECT CHARINDEX('World', 'Hello World') AS position;Copy Code

Result: 7

4. CONCAT Function

Usage: Add two or more strings together.

Syntax: `CONCAT(string1, string2, …)`

SELECT CONCAT('Hello', ' ', 'World') AS greeting;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

5. Concat With + Function

Usage: Add two or more strings together using the + operator.

Syntax: `string1 + string2 + …`

SELECT 'Hello' + ' ' + 'World' AS greeting;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

6. CONCAT_WS Function

Usage: Add two or more strings together with a separator.

Syntax: `CONCAT_WS(separator, string1, string2, …)`

SELECT CONCAT_WS(', ', 'John', 'Doe', 'Smith') AS full_name;Copy Code

Result: 'John, Doe, Smith'

7. DATALENGTH Function

Usage: Returns the number of bytes used to represent an expression.

Syntax: `DATALENGTH(expression)`
SELECT DATALENGTH('Hello') AS byte_length;Copy Code

Result: 5

8. DIFFERENCE Function

Usage: Compares two SOUNDEX values and returns an integer value.

Syntax: `DIFFERENCE(string1, string2)`

SELECT DIFFERENCE('Smith', 'Smyth') AS sound_difference;Copy Code

Result: 4 (values range from 0 to 4, with 4 being the most similar)

9. FORMAT Function

Usage: Formats a value with the specified format.

Syntax: `FORMAT(value, format)`

SELECT FORMAT(123456.789, 'N2') AS formatted_number;Copy Code

Result: '123,456.79'

10. LEFT Function

Usage: Extracts a number of characters from a string (starting from left).

Syntax: `LEFT(string, number_of_chars)`

SELECT LEFT('Hello World', 5) AS left_chars;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello'

11. LEN

Usage: Returns the length of a string.

Syntax: `LEN(string)`

SELECT LEN('Hello World') AS string_length;Copy Code

Result: 11

12. LOWER

Usage: Convert a string to lower-case.

Syntax: `LOWER(string)`

SELECT LOWER('HELLO WORLD') AS lowercase_text;Copy Code

Result: 'hello world'

13. LTRIM

Usage: Removes leading spaces from a string.

Syntax: `LTRIM(string)`

SELECT LTRIM(' Hello World') AS trimmed_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

14. NCHAR

Usage: Returns the Unicode character based on the number code.

Syntax: `NCHAR(unicode_code)`

SELECT NCHAR(65) AS unicode_char;Copy Code

Result: 'A'

15. PATINDEX

Usage: Returns the position of a pattern in a string.

Syntax: `PATINDEX(‘%pattern%’, string)`

SELECT PATINDEX('%World%', 'Hello World') AS pattern_position;Copy Code

Result: 7

16. QUOTENAME

Usage: Returns a Unicode string with delimiters added to make the string a valid SQL Server
delimited identifier.
Syntax: `QUOTENAME(string [, quote_character])`

SELECT QUOTENAME('My Table') AS quoted_name;Copy Code

Result: '[My Table]'

17. REPLACE

Usage: Replaces all occurrences of a substring within a string with a new substring.
Syntax: `REPLACE(string, old_substring, new_substring)`

SELECT REPLACE('Hello World', 'World', 'SQL') AS replaced_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello SQL'

18. REPLICATE

Usage: Repeats a string a number of times.

Syntax: `REPLICATE(string, number_of_times)`

SELECT REPLICATE('SQL ', 3) AS repeated_text;Copy Code

Result: 'SQL SQL SQL '

19. REVERSE

Usage: Reverses a string and returns the result.

Syntax: `REVERSE(string)`

SELECT REVERSE('Hello') AS reversed_text;Copy Code

Result: 'olleH'

20. RIGHT
Usage: Extracts a number of characters from a string (starting from right).
Syntax: `RIGHT(string, number_of_chars)`

SELECT RIGHT('Hello World', 5) AS right_chars;Copy Code

Result: 'World'

21. RTRIM

Usage: Removes trailing spaces from a string.

Syntax: `RTRIM(string)`

SELECT RTRIM('Hello World ') AS trimmed_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

22. SOUNDEX

Usage: Returns a four-character code to evaluate the similarity of two strings.

Syntax: `SOUNDEX(string)`

SELECT SOUNDEX('Smith'), SOUNDEX('Smyth');Copy Code

Results: 'S530', 'S530'

23. SPACE

Usage: Returns a string of the specified number of space characters.

Syntax: `SPACE(number_of_spaces)`

SELECT 'Hello' + SPACE(5) + 'World' AS spaced_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

24. STR

Usage: Returns a number as a string.

Syntax: `STR(number [, length [, decimal_places]])`

SELECT STR(123.45, 6, 1) AS string_number;Copy Code

Result: ' 123.5'

25. STUFF

Usage: Deletes a part of a string and then inserts another part into the string, starting at a
specified position.
Syntax: `STUFF(string, start, length, new_string)`

SELECT STUFF('Hello World', 7, 5, 'SQL') AS modified_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello SQL'

26. SUBSTRING

Usage: Extracts some characters from a string.

Syntax: `SUBSTRING(string, start, length)`
SELECT SUBSTRING('Hello World', 7, 5) AS extracted_text;Copy Code

Result: 'World'

27. TRANSLATE

Usage: The string from the first argument gets a result after the characters specified in the
second argument are translated into the characters in the third argument.
Syntax: `TRANSLATE(string, characters_to_replace, replacement_characters)`

SELECT TRANSLATE('2017-08-25', '0123456789', 'abcdefghij') AS translated_text;Copy Code

Result: 'baih-ai-be'

28. TRIM

Usage: Removes leading and trailing spaces (or other specified characters) from a string.
Syntax: `TRIM([characters FROM] string)`

SELECT TRIM(' Hello World ') AS trimmed_text;Copy Code

Result: 'Hello World'

29. UNICODE

Usage: Returns the Unicode value for the first character of the input expression.
Syntax: `UNICODE(character_expression)`

SELECT UNICODE('A') AS unicode_value;Copy Code

Result: 65

30. UPPER

Usage: Converts a string to upper-case.

Syntax: `UPPER(string)`

SELECT UPPER('hello world') AS uppercase_text;Copy Code

Result: 'HELLO WORLD'