T-SQL: RIGHT, LEFT, SUBSTRING and CHARINDEX Functions

This article explains the base functionality and uses of the LEFT, RIGHT, SUBSTRING and CHARINDEX functions in SQL.

Samples script:

-- Local variable
declare @locavariable varchar(20);
set @locavariable = 'HELLO WORLD';

-- Sample Execution
select @locavariable as 'Variables Data Results';
SELECT RIGHT(@locavariable, 3) as 'RIGHT Results';
SELECT LEFT(@locavariable, 3) as 'LEFT Results';
SELECT CHARINDEX(' ',@locavariable) as 'CHARINDEX Results';
SELECT SUBSTRING(@locavariable,4,5) as 'SUBSTRING Results'
-- Using together
SELECT LEFT(@locavariable,CHARINDEX(' ',@locavariable)-1) as 'Combined Results'

Sample Results:

Variable Data Results
——————–
HELLO WORLD

RIGHT Results
————-
RLD

LEFT Results
————
HEL

CHARINDEX Results
—————–
6

SUBSTRING Results
—————–
LO WO

Combined Results
——————–
HELLO