lpad

This function is used to return a string of a specified length. If the length of the given string (str1) is shorter than the specified length (length), the given string is left-padded with str2 to the specified length.

Syntax

lpad(string <str1>, int <length>, string <str2>)

Parameters

**Table 1** Parameters
Parameter	Mandatory	Type	Description
str1	Yes	STRING	String to be left-padded
length	Yes	STRING	Number of digits to be padded to the left
str2	No	STRING	String used for padding

Return Values

The return value is of the STRING type.

If the value of length is smaller than the number of digits in str1, the string whose length is truncated from the left of str1 is returned.
If the value of length is 0, an empty string is returned.
If there is no input parameter or the value of any input parameter is NULL, NULL is returned.

Example Code

Uses string ZZ to left pad string abcdefgh to 10 digits. An example command is as follows:
The value ZZabcdefgh is returned.
```
select lpad('abcdefgh', 10, 'ZZ');
```
Uses string ZZ to left pad string abcdefgh to 5 digits. An example command is as follows:
The value abcde is returned.
```
select lpad('abcdefgh', 5, 'ZZ');
```
The value of length is 0. An example command is as follows:
An empty string is returned.
```
select lpad('abcdefgh', 0, 'ZZ'); 
```
The value of any input parameter is NULL. An example command is as follows:
The value NULL is returned.
```
select lpad(null ,0, 'ZZ');
```