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SQL Server CHAR() Function



The SQL Server (Transact-SQL) CHAR() function returns the single-byte character with the specified integer_code, as defined by the character set and encoding of the default collation of the current database.

The range of integer_code is from 0 through 255. The function returns a NULL value for integer_code outside this range or not representing a complete character. The function also returns a NULL value when the character exceeds the length of the return type. Many common character sets share ASCII as a sub-set and will return the same character for integer values in the range 0 through 127.

Syntax

CHAR(integer_code)

Parameters

integer_code Required. Specify integer whose character value (according to the ASCII table) is to be retrieved.

Return Value

Returns the single-byte character given by the code value of the specified integer_code.

Example 1:

The example below shows the usage of CHAR() function.

SELECT CHAR(72);
Result: 'H'

SELECT CHAR(69);
Result: 'E'

SELECT CHAR(NULL);
Result: NULL

SELECT CHAR('73');
Result: 'I'

Example 2:

Consider a database table called Sample with the following records:

Datax1x2x3
Data167117116
Data280117116
Data384111111
Data466111119
Data5677968
Data669110100

The statement given below can be used to get the string containing characters given by the code values specified by columns x1, x2 and x3.

SELECT *, CHAR(x1) + CHAR(x2) + CHAR(x3) AS CHAR_String FROM Sample;

The query will produce the following result:

Datax1x2x3CHAR_String
Data167117116Cut
Data280117116Put
Data384111111Too
Data466111119Bow
Data5677968COD
Data669110100End

❮ SQL Server Functions