## Syntax
```mermaid
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'themeVariables': {
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flowchart LR
Start((START)) --> LTRIM[LTRIM]:::quoted
ltrim -->| | LTRIM
LTRIM --> End((END))
```
## Purpose
The `LTRIM` SQL function trims characters from the left side of a text.
See also [[TRIM]] and [[RTRIM]].
Parameters:
- Input (`varchar2`): the text from to trim characters from the left side.
- Characters to trim (optional, `varchar2`): all character(s) to trim. Defaults to a space.
Returns: A text with characters trimmed from the left.
## Examples
The following example trims the leading space from ` abcd`:
```sql
select ltrim(' abcd')
-------------------
abcd
```
The following example trims all characters `b`, `c` and `a` from the left side of `abcd`:
```sql
select ltrim('abcd', 'bca')
-------------------
d
```
The following example trims all digits from the left side of `1029384756abcd`:
```sql
select ltrim('1029384756abcd', '0123456789')
-------------------
abcd
```