---
title: ltrim
description: |
  Removes whitespace from the start of a string while leaving the end unchanged.
url: https://coralogix.com/docs/dataprime/language-reference/functions-reference/string/ltrim/
product: dataengine
feature: DataPrime Language
feature_id: dataprime-language
feature_identifier: dataengine/dataprime-language
last_updated: '2026-10-21'
---

# `ltrim`

## Description

Removes whitespace from the start of a string while leaving the end unchanged.

## Syntax

Like many functions in DataPrime, `ltrim` supports<!-- --> [two notations](https://coralogix.com/docs/dataprime/language-reference/functions-reference.md),<!-- --> **function** and **method**. These interchangeable forms allow flexibility in how you structure expressions.

* Function notation
* Method notation

```
ltrim(value: string): string
```

```
(value: string).ltrim(): string
```

## Arguments

| Name    | Type     | Required | Description        |
| ------- | -------- | -------- | ------------------ |
| `value` | `string` | **true** | The string to trim |

## Example

**Clean up an extracted username**

```
{

  "username": "   SyntaxTerror"

}
```

Use `ltrim` to remove the unwanted space:

### Example query

* Function notation
* Method notation

```
create trimmed_user from ltrim(username)
```

```
create trimmed_user from username.ltrim()
```

### Example output

```
{

  "username": "   SyntaxTerror",

  "trimmed_user": "SyntaxTerror"

}
```