> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://axiom.co/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# strrep
> This page explains how to use the strrep function in APL.
The `strrep` function repeats a string a specified number of times with an optional delimiter. Use this function to generate test data, create patterns for matching, or build formatted strings with repeated elements.
## For users of other query languages
If you come from other query languages, this section explains how to adjust your existing queries to achieve the same results in APL.
In Splunk SPL, repeating strings typically requires custom functions or loops. APL's `strrep` provides this functionality natively.
```sql Splunk example theme={null}
| eval repeated=mvjoin(mvappend("text","text","text"), "")
```
```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
['sample-http-logs']
| extend repeated = strrep('text', 3)
```
In ANSI SQL, you use `REPEAT` or `REPLICATE` depending on the database. APL's `strrep` provides standardized string repetition.
```sql SQL example theme={null}
SELECT REPEAT('text', 3) AS repeated FROM logs;
```
```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
['sample-http-logs']
| extend repeated = strrep('text', 3)
```
## Usage
### Syntax
```kusto theme={null}
strrep(value, multiplier, delimiter)
```
### Parameters
| Name | Type | Required | Description |
| ---------- | ------ | -------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| value | string | Yes | The string to repeat. |
| multiplier | int | Yes | Number of repetitions (1 to 1024). Values over 1024 are capped at 1024. |
| delimiter | string | No | Optional delimiter between repetitions (default: empty string). |
### Returns
Returns the string repeated the specified number of times with optional delimiters between repetitions.
## Use case examples
Create visual separators or formatting patterns for log output visualization.
**Query**
```kusto theme={null}
['sample-http-logs']
| extend separator = strrep('=', 50)
| extend formatted_log = strcat(separator, '\n', method, ' ', uri, ' ', status, '\n', separator)
| project _time, formatted_log
| limit 5
```
[Run in Playground](https://play.axiom.co/axiom-play-qf1k/query?initForm=%7B%22apl%22%3A%22%5B%27sample-http-logs%27%5D%20%7C%20extend%20separator%20%3D%20strrep\(%27%3D%27%2C%2050\)%20%7C%20extend%20formatted_log%20%3D%20strcat\(separator%2C%20%27%5Cn%27%2C%20method%2C%20%27%20%27%2C%20uri%2C%20%27%20%27%2C%20status%2C%20%27%5Cn%27%2C%20separator\)%20%7C%20project%20_time%2C%20formatted_log%20%7C%20limit%205%22%7D)
**Output**
| \_time | formatted\_log |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| 2024-11-06T10:00:00Z | ================================================== GET /api/users 200 ================================================== |
This query creates visual separators using repeated equal signs, making log output more readable and organized.
Generate indentation patterns based on trace depth for hierarchical visualization.
**Query**
```kusto theme={null}
['otel-demo-traces']
| extend simulated_depth = 3
| extend indentation = strrep(' ', simulated_depth)
| extend formatted_span = strcat(indentation, ['service.name'], ': ', kind)
| project _time, formatted_span, trace_id
| limit 10
```
[Run in Playground](https://play.axiom.co/axiom-play-qf1k/query?initForm=%7B%22apl%22%3A%22%5B%27otel-demo-traces%27%5D%20%7C%20extend%20simulated_depth%20%3D%203%20%7C%20extend%20indentation%20%3D%20strrep\(%27%20%20%27%2C%20simulated_depth\)%20%7C%20extend%20formatted_span%20%3D%20strcat\(indentation%2C%20%5B%27service.name%27%5D%2C%20%27%3A%20%27%2C%20kind\)%20%7C%20project%20_time%2C%20formatted_span%2C%20trace_id%20%7C%20limit%2010%22%7D)
**Output**
| \_time | formatted\_span | trace\_id |
| -------------------- | ---------------------- | --------- |
| 2024-11-06T10:00:00Z | frontend: server | abc123 |
| 2024-11-06T10:01:00Z | checkout: client | def456 |
This query creates hierarchical indentation for trace visualization by repeating spaces based on simulated span depth.
Generate test patterns for attack signature detection or create anonymization masks.
**Query**
```kusto theme={null}
['sample-http-logs']
| extend id_length = strlen(id)
| extend anonymized_id = strcat(substring(id, 0, 3), strrep('*', id_length - 6), substring(id, id_length - 3, 3))
| project _time, id, anonymized_id, status, uri
| limit 10
```
[Run in Playground](https://play.axiom.co/axiom-play-qf1k/query?initForm=%7B%22apl%22%3A%22%5B'sample-http-logs'%5D%20%7C%20extend%20id_length%20%3D%20strlen\(id\)%20%7C%20extend%20anonymized_id%20%3D%20strcat\(substring\(id%2C%200%2C%203\)%2C%20strrep\('*'%2C%20id_length%20-%206\)%2C%20substring\(id%2C%20id_length%20-%203%2C%203\)\)%20%7C%20project%20_time%2C%20id%2C%20anonymized_id%2C%20status%2C%20uri%20%7C%20limit%2010%22%7D)
**Output**
| \_time | id | anonymized\_id | status | uri |
| -------------------- | ---------- | -------------- | ------ | ------ |
| 2024-11-06T10:00:00Z | user123456 | use\*\*\*\*456 | 403 | /admin |
| 2024-11-06T10:01:00Z | admin12345 | adm\*\*\*345 | 401 | /api |
This query creates anonymized user IDs by replacing middle characters with repeated asterisks, maintaining partial visibility for analysis while protecting privacy.
## List of related functions
* [strcat](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/strcat): Concatenates strings. Use this with strrep to build complex repeated patterns.
* [strcat\_delim](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/strcat-delim): Concatenates strings with delimiters. Use strrep's delimiter parameter as an alternative for repeated patterns.
* [strlen](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/strlen): Returns string length. Use this to calculate how many repetitions you need.
* [substring](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/substring): Extracts parts of strings. Use this with strrep for complex pattern building.