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# PostgreSQL RTRIM() Function

**Summary**: in this tutorial, you will learn how to use the PostgreSQL `RTRIM()` function to remove specified characters from the end of a string.

## Introduction to PostgreSQL RTRIM() function

The `RTRIM()` function allows you to remove specified characters from the end of a string.

Here's the syntax of the `RTRIM()` function:

```sql
RTRIM(string, character)
```

In this syntax:

- `string` is the input string that you want to remove characters
- `character` specifies the character you want to remove from the end of the string. The `character` parameter is optional and defaults to space.

The `RTRIM()` function returns the string with all trailing characters removed.

To remove both leading and trailing characters from a string, you use the [TRIM()](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-trim-function) function.

To remove all the leading characters from a string, you use the [LTRIM()](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-ltrim) function.

## PostgreSQL RTRIM() function examples

Let's explore some examples of using the `RTRIM()` function.

### 1) Basic PostgreSQL RTRIM() function example

The following example uses the `RTRIM()` function to remove the character `!` from the end of the string `postgres!!!`:

```sql
SELECT RTRIM('postgres!!!', '!');
```

Output:

```text
  rtrim
----------
 postgres
(1 row)
```

### 2) Using the PostgreSQL RTRIM() function to remove leading spaces

The following example uses the `RTRIM()` function to remove all the spaces from the end of the string `'PostgreSQL '`:

```sql
SELECT RTRIM('PostgreSQL   ');
```

Output:

```text
   rtrim
------------
 PostgreSQL
(1 row)

```

Because the default of the second argument of the `RTRIM()` function is space, you don't need to explicitly specify it.

### 3) Using the RTRIM() function with table data example

First, [create a new table](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-create-table) called `tweets` and [insert some rows](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-insert-multiple-rows) into it:

```sql
CREATE TABLE tweets(
   id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
   tweet VARCHAR(120) NOT NULL
);

INSERT INTO tweets(tweet)
VALUES
   ('PostgreSQL tutorial   '),
   ('PostgreSQL RTRIM() function   ')
RETURNING *;
```

Output:

```text
 id |             tweet
----+--------------------------------
  1 | PostgreSQL tutorial
  2 | PostgreSQL RTRIM() function
(2 rows)


INSERT 0 2
```

Second, [update](../postgresql-tutorial/postgresql-update) the tweets by removing the trailing spaces using the `RTRIM()` function:

```sql
UPDATE tweets
SET tweet = RTRIM(tweet);
```

Output:

```sql
UPDATE 2
```

The output indicates that two rows were updated.

Third, verify the updates:

```sql
SELECT * FROM tweets;
```

Output:

```text
 id |            tweet
----+-----------------------------
  1 | PostgreSQL tutorial
  2 | PostgreSQL RTRIM() function
(2 rows)
```

## Summary

- Use `RTRIM()` function to remove all specified characters from the end of a string.

---

## Related docs (String Functions)

- [ASCII](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-ascii)
- [CHR](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-chr)
- [CONCAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-concat-function)
- [CONCAT_WS](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-concat_ws)
- [FORMAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-format)
- [INITCAP](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-initcap)
- [LEFT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-left)
- [LENGTH](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-length-function)
- [LOWER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-lower)
- [LPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-lpad)
- [LTRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-ltrim)
- [MD5](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-md5)
- [POSITION](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-position)
- [REGEXP_MATCHES](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-regexp_matches)
- [REGEXP_REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/regexp_replace)
- [REPEAT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-repeat)
- [REVERSE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-reverse)
- [REPLACE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-replace)
- [RIGHT](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-right)
- [RPAD](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-rpad)
- [SPLIT_PART](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-split_part)
- [SUBSTRING](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-substring)
- [TO_CHAR](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-to_char)
- [TO_NUMBER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-to_number)
- [TRANSLATE](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-translate)
- [TRIM](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-trim-function)
- [UPPER](https://neon.com/postgresql/postgresql-string-functions/postgresql-upper)