> ## 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.

# trim_end

> This page explains how to use the trim_end function in APL.

The `trim_end` function removes all trailing occurrences of specified characters from a string. Use this function to clean log data, remove trailing whitespace or punctuation, or standardize string formats by removing unwanted suffixes.

## 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.

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Splunk SPL users">
    In Splunk SPL, you use `rtrim` for trailing whitespace. APL's `trim_end` provides more flexibility with custom character sets.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```sql Splunk example theme={null}
      | eval cleaned=rtrim(field)
      ```

      ```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
      ['sample-http-logs']
      | extend cleaned = trim_end(' ', field)
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ANSI SQL users">
    In ANSI SQL, you use `RTRIM` for trailing characters. APL's `trim_end` provides similar functionality.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```sql SQL example theme={null}
      SELECT RTRIM(field) AS cleaned FROM logs;
      ```

      ```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
      ['sample-http-logs']
      | extend cleaned = trim_end(' ', field)
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Usage

### Syntax

```kusto theme={null}
trim_end(cutset, text)
```

### Parameters

| Name   | Type   | Required | Description                                            |
| ------ | ------ | -------- | ------------------------------------------------------ |
| cutset | string | Yes      | A string containing characters to remove from the end. |
| text   | string | Yes      | The source string to trim.                             |

### Returns

Returns the source string with all trailing characters in the cutset removed.

## Use case examples

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Log analysis">
    Remove trailing slashes and query parameters from URIs for endpoint grouping.

    **Query**

    ```kusto theme={null}
    ['sample-http-logs']
    | extend cleaned_uri = trim_end('/?&', uri)
    | summarize request_count = count() by cleaned_uri, method
    | sort by request_count desc
    | limit 10
    ```

    [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%20cleaned_uri%20%3D%20trim_end\(%27%2F%3F%26%27%2C%20uri\)%20%7C%20summarize%20request_count%20%3D%20count\(\)%20by%20cleaned_uri%2C%20method%20%7C%20sort%20by%20request_count%20desc%20%7C%20limit%2010%22%7D)

    **Output**

    | cleaned\_uri  | method | request\_count |
    | ------------- | ------ | -------------- |
    | /api/users    | GET    | 2341           |
    | /api/orders   | POST   | 1987           |
    | /api/products | GET    | 1654           |

    This query removes trailing slashes and query separator characters from URIs, enabling better endpoint aggregation.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="OpenTelemetry traces">
    Clean trailing characters from service names for consistent grouping.

    **Query**

    ```kusto theme={null}
    ['otel-demo-traces']
    | extend cleaned_service = trim_end('-_', ['service.name'])
    | summarize span_count = count() by cleaned_service
    | sort by span_count desc
    | 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%20cleaned_service%20%3D%20trim_end\(%27-_%27%2C%20%5B%27service.name%27%5D\)%20%7C%20summarize%20span_count%20%3D%20count\(\)%20by%20cleaned_service%20%7C%20sort%20by%20span_count%20desc%20%7C%20limit%2010%22%7D)

    **Output**

    | cleaned\_service | span\_count |
    | ---------------- | ----------- |
    | frontend         | 4532        |
    | checkout         | 3421        |
    | cart             | 2987        |

    This query removes trailing hyphens and underscores from service names, standardizing naming conventions for analysis.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Security logs">
    Clean trailing punctuation from user identifiers in security logs.

    **Query**

    ```kusto theme={null}
    ['sample-http-logs']
    | extend cleaned_id = trim_end('.,;!?', id)
    | summarize attempts = count() by cleaned_id, status
    | sort by attempts desc
    | 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%20cleaned_id%20%3D%20trim_end\('.%2C%3B!%3F'%2C%20id\)%20%7C%20summarize%20attempts%20%3D%20count\(\)%20by%20cleaned_id%2C%20status%20%7C%20sort%20by%20attempts%20desc%20%7C%20limit%2010%22%7D)

    **Output**

    | cleaned\_id | status | failed\_attempts |
    | ----------- | ------ | ---------------- |
    | user123     | 401    | 45               |
    | admin       | 403    | 32               |

    This query removes trailing punctuation from user IDs in authentication attempts, ensuring accurate counting when IDs have inconsistent formatting.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## List of related functions

* [trim\_start](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/trim-start): Removes leading characters. Use this to trim from the beginning instead of the end.
* [trim](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/trim): Removes both leading and trailing characters. Use this when you need to clean both ends.
* [trim\_end\_regex](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/trim-end-regex): Removes trailing matches using regex. Use this for pattern-based trimming.
* [replace\_string](/apl/scalar-functions/string-functions/replace-string): Replaces strings. Use this when you need to remove characters from anywhere, not just the end.