## Syntax ```mermaid %%{init: { 'theme': 'base', 'flowchart': { 'padding': '7', 'nodeSpacing': '20', 'rankSpacing': '20' }, 'themeVariables': { 'fontSize': '11px', 'fontFamily': 'Arial' } }}%% flowchart LR Start((START)) --> LPAD[LPAD]:::quoted LPAD --> End((END)) ``` ## Purpose The `LPAD` SQL function pads a string to the left to make it a specified length. Parameters: - Input: string to be padded. - Lenght: the length the string should be padded to. - Characters `[optional]`: Characters to pad with. Returns: A string padded to the left to a given length with the optional specified characters.