This Oracle tutorial explains how to use the Oracle/PLSQL LTRIM function.
LTRIM removes a set of characters from the left of a string. LTRIM stands for "left trim". The general format for this function is:
LTRIM(string[, characters_to_remove])
By default LTRIM removes the space:
The syntax for the Oracle/PLSQL LTRIM function is:
LTRIM( string1, [ trim_string ] )
trim the string1 from the left-hand side.
trim_string is the string that will be removed from the left-hand side of string1.
If this parameter is omitted, default to spaces.
SQL> SELECT LTRIM(' Oracle') FROM dual;
LTRIM(
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Oracle
SQL>
Remove dots:
SQL> SELECT LTRIM('...Oracle', '.') FROM dual;
LTRIM(
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Oracle
SQL>
The following sql trims letter a from the employee's name:
CREATE TABLE EMP (EMPNO NUMBER(4) NOT NULL,
ENAME VARCHAR2(10),
JOB VARCHAR2(9),
SAL NUMBER(7, 2),
DEPTNO NUMBER(2));
-- w w w . j a v a 2 s.com
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (1, 'SMITH', 'CLERK', 800, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (2, 'ALLEN', 'SALESMAN', 1600, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (3, 'WARD', 'SALESMAN', 1250, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (4, 'JONES', 'MANAGER', 2975, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (5, 'MARTIN','SALESMAN', 1250, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (6, 'BLAKE', 'MANAGER', 2850, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (7, 'CLARK', 'MANAGER', 2850, 10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (8, 'SCOTT', 'ANALYST', 3000, 20);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (9, 'KING', 'PRESIDENT',3000, 10);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (10,'TURNER','SALESMAN', 1500, 30);
INSERT INTO EMP VALUES (11,'ADAMS', 'CLERK', 1500, 20);
SQL> select ename, ltrim(ename,'A') from emp;
ENAME LTRIM(ENAM
---------- ----------
SMITH SMITH
ALLEN LLEN
WARD WARD
JONES JONES
MARTIN MARTIN
BLAKE BLAKE
CLARK CLARK
SCOTT SCOTT
KING KING
TURNER TURNER
ADAMS DAMS
11 rows selected.
SQL>