SQL Server: SUBSTRING Function
This SQL Server tutorial explains how to use the SUBSTRING function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) with syntax and examples.
Description
In SQL Server (Transact-SQL), the SUBSTRING functions allows you to extract a substring from a string.
Syntax
The syntax for the SUBSTRING function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) is:
SUBSTRING( string, start_position, length )
Parameters or Arguments
- string
- The source string to extract from.
- start_position
- The position to start extraction from. The first position in the string is always 1.
- length
- The number of characters to extract.
Note
- The first position in string is 1.
- If length is a negative number, then the SUBSTRING function will return an error.
Applies To
The SUBSTRING function can be used in the following versions of SQL Server (Transact-SQL):
- SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2014, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005
Example
Let’s look at some SQL Server SUBSTRING function examples and explore how to use the SUBSTRING function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL).
For example:
SELECT SUBSTRING('TechOnTheNet.com', 1, 4);
Result: 'Tech'
SELECT SUBSTRING('TechOnTheNet.com', 5, 2);
Result: 'On'
SELECT SUBSTRING('TechOnTheNet.com', 9, 1);
Result: 'e'