repeat() function in SQL
The repeat() function in SQL is used to repeat a string a specified number of times. This function can be helpful for generating test data, formatting output, or creating visual effects in textual data presentations.
Syntax
The syntax for the repeat() function is as follows:
SELECT repeat(string, number)
This function takes two arguments: the string to repeat and the number of times to repeat it.
Here’s a basic example:
SELECT repeat('Hello', 3)
repeat() for visual separator
Imagine you need to generate a visual separator in a report generated from SQL queries. You can use the repeat() function to create a line of dashes:
SELECT repeat('-', 20) AS separator
This query will produce a string of 20 dashes, which can be used as a divider between sections of a report.
repeat() for credit card placeholder
The same way way we can generate a credit card placeholder instead of showing a real credit card number in our research:
SELECT repeat('X', 16) AS credit_card_number
The repeat() function isn’t something you’d use every day for Data Analysis, but it’s a versatile tool in SQL for enhancing the manipulation and presentation of string data, offering extensive possibilities for creative and practical applications.
Database compatibility
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MySQL
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PostgreSQL
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SQLite
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Redshift
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Big Query
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Snowflake
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