## Syntax
```mermaid
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flowchart LR
Start((START)) --> TRIM[TRIM]:::quoted
TRIM --> End((END))
```
## Purpose
The `TRIM` SQL function trims whitespaces from both sides of the provided text.
See also [[LTRIM]] and [[RTRIM]].
Parameters:
- Input (`varchar2`): the text from which to trim characters.
- Characters (optional, `varchar2`): the characters to trim; defaults to whitespace.
Returns: A text trimmed from whitespaces from both sides.
## Examples
The following example trims the whitespace from both sides of ` abcd `:
```sql
select trim(' abcd ')
-------------------
abcd
```
The following example retrieves `null` since the input contains only whitespace:
```sql
select trim(' ')
-------------------
```
The following example trims the characters `:`, `,`, `.`, `[`, `]` and whitespace from both sides of the input:
```sql
select trim(':,[] hi []:', ': ,.[] ')
-------------------
hi
```