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title: ltrim()
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version: current
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canonical_url: https://developer.salesforce.com/docs/analytics/bi-dev-guide-saql/guide/bi-saql-functions-string-ltrim.html
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content_type: documentation
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products:
  - Analytics SAQL Developer Guide
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---

# ltrim()

Removes the specified characters from the beginning of a string.

## Syntax

`ltrim`(_string_,_substr_)

## Usage

Removes every instance of each character in _substr_ from the beginning of _string_. This function is case-sensitive. To remove leading spaces, do not specify a value for _substr_.

## Example

This example shows that `ltrim` removes the specified characters from the beginning of a string. This function is case-sensitive.

```nolang
q = load "test";
q = foreach q generate 'Company' as 'Company', ltrim('Company',"abc") as 'ltrim abc',
    ltrim('Company',"cba") as 'ltrim cba', ltrim('Company',"ab") as 'ltrim ab',
    ltrim('Company',"bc") as 'ltrim bc';
```

![Diagram showing number of close opps, grouped by day of the week they were closed.](https://developer.salesforce.com/media/bi_dev_guide_saql/ltrim.png)