How to get first character of a string in SQL?
SqlSql ServerSql Server-2005Sql Problem Overview
I have a SQL column with a length of 6. Now want to take only the first char of that column. Is there any string function in SQL to do this?
Sql Solutions
Solution 1 - Sql
LEFT(colName, 1) will also do this, also. It's equivalent to SUBSTRING(colName, 1, 1).
I like LEFT, since I find it a bit cleaner, but really, there's no difference either way.
Solution 2 - Sql
I prefer:
SUBSTRING (my_column, 1, 1)
because it is Standard SQL-92 syntax and therefore more portable.
Strictly speaking, the standard version would be
SUBSTRING (my_column FROM 1 FOR 1)
The point is, transforming from one to the other, hence to any similar vendor variation, is trivial.
p.s. It was only recently pointed out to me that functions in standard SQL are deliberately contrary, by having parameters lists that are not the conventional commalists, in order to make them easily identifiable as being from the standard!
Solution 3 - Sql
SUBSTRING ( MyColumn, 1 , 1 ) for the first character and SUBSTRING ( MyColumn, 1 , 2 ) for the first two.
Solution 4 - Sql
It is simple to achieve by the following
DECLARE @SomeString NVARCHAR(20) = 'This is some string'
DECLARE @Result NVARCHAR(20)
Either
SET @Result = SUBSTRING(@SomeString, 2, 3)
SELECT @Result
@Result = his
or
SET @Result = LEFT(@SomeString, 6)
SELECT @Result
@Result = This i
Solution 5 - Sql
SELECT SUBSTR(thatColumn, 1, 1) As NewColumn from student
Solution 6 - Sql
If you search the first char of string in Sql string
SELECT CHARINDEX('char', 'my char')
=> return 4
Solution 7 - Sql
INPUT
STRMIDDLENAME
--------------
Aravind Chaterjee
Shivakumar
Robin Van Parsee
SELECT STRMIDDLENAME,
CASE WHEN INSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,' ',1,2) != 0 THEN SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,1,1) || SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,INSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,' ',1,1)+1,1)||
SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,INSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,' ',1,2)+1,1)
WHEN INSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,' ',1,1) != 0 THEN SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,1,1) || SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,INSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,' ',1,1)+1,1)
ELSE SUBSTR(STRMIDDLENAME,1,1)
END AS FIRSTLETTERS
FROM Dual;
OUTPUT
STRMIDDLENAME FIRSTLETTERS
--------- -----------------
Aravind Chaterjee AC
Shivakumar S
Robin Van Parsee RVP
Solution 8 - Sql
Select First two Character in selected Field with Left(string,Number of Char in int)
SELECT LEFT(FName, 2) AS FirstName FROM dbo.NameMaster