> ## 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_space

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

Use the `trim_space` function in APL to remove leading and trailing whitespace characters from a string. This function is especially useful when cleaning up input from logs, APIs, or user-generated content where strings may contain unintended spaces. You can apply `trim_space` to normalize data before comparisons, joins, or aggregations that depend on exact string matches.

Use `trim_space` when you need to ensure that extraneous spaces at the beginning or end of a string don’t interfere with your analysis or results.

## 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, the `trim` function removes leading and trailing spaces. APL’s `trim_space` works similarly.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```sql Splunk example theme={null}
      | eval cleaned_field = trim(uri)
      ```

      ```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
      ['sample-http-logs']
      | extend cleaned_uri = trim_space(uri)
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="ANSI SQL users">
    In ANSI SQL, the `TRIM()` function removes leading and trailing whitespace by default. APL’s `trim_space` achieves the same behavior.

    <CodeGroup>
      ```sql SQL example theme={null}
      SELECT TRIM(uri) AS cleaned_uri FROM sample_http_logs
      ```

      ```kusto APL equivalent theme={null}
      ['sample-http-logs']
      | extend cleaned_uri = trim_space(uri)
      ```
    </CodeGroup>
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Usage

### Syntax

```kusto theme={null}
trim_space(value)
```

### Parameters

| Name  | Type   | Description               |
| ----- | ------ | ------------------------- |
| value | string | The input string to trim. |

### Returns

A string with all leading and trailing whitespace removed. The function does not modify internal whitespace.

## Use case examples

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Log analysis">
    When analyzing request URIs from logs, trailing or leading spaces can lead to false negatives in equality comparisons. Use `trim_space` to normalize request paths.

    **Query**

    ```kusto theme={null}
    ['sample-http-logs']
    | extend cleaned_uri = trim_space(uri)
    | summarize count() by cleaned_uri
    ```

    [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_uri%20%3D%20trim_space\(uri\)%20%7C%20summarize%20count\(\)%20by%20cleaned_uri%22%7D)

    **Output**

    | cleaned\_uri     | count |
    | ---------------- | ----- |
    | /api/data        | 120   |
    | /api/data/submit | 88    |
    | /login           | 42    |

    This query removes leading and trailing spaces from each `uri` and aggregates request counts by the cleaned path.
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="OpenTelemetry traces">
    In OpenTelemetry traces, service names or span IDs can have unintended spaces when injected from external tools. Use `trim_space` to standardize span IDs before filtering.

    **Query**

    ```kusto theme={null}
    ['otel-demo-traces']
    | extend clean_span_id = trim_space(span_id)
    | summarize count() by clean_span_id
    ```

    [Run in Playground](https://play.axiom.co/axiom-play-qf1k/query?initForm=%7B%22apl%22%3A%22%5B'otel-demo-traces'%5D%20%7C%20extend%20clean_span_id%20%3D%20trim_space\(span_id\)%20%7C%20summarize%20count\(\)%20by%20clean_span_id%22%7D)

    **Output**

    | clean\_span\_id  | count |
    | ---------------- | ----- |
    | 53c9e2f4e8794a6a | 17    |
    | a3ff4f1e5b9d1c22 | 14    |
    | 12c4b9f7da984dc7 | 21    |

    This query trims each `span_id` and aggregates span counts, ensuring ID formatting does not affect grouping.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>