# SUBSTRING function
Returns substring at specified positions

> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://preview.materialize.com/materialize/40269/llms.txt).


`SUBSTRING` returns a specified substring of a string.

## Signatures

```mzsql
substring(str, start_pos)
substring(str, start_pos, len)
substring(str FROM start_pos)
substring(str FOR len)
substring(str FROM start_pos FOR len)
```

Parameter | Type | Description
----------|------|------------
_str_ | [`string`](https://preview.materialize.com/materialize/40269/sql/types/string) | The base string.
_start_pos_ | [`int`](https://preview.materialize.com/materialize/40269/sql/types/int) | The starting position for the substring; counting starts at 1.
_len_ | [`int`](https://preview.materialize.com/materialize/40269/sql/types/int) | The length of the substring you want to return.

### Return value

`substring` returns a [`string`](https://preview.materialize.com/materialize/40269/sql/types/string).

## Examples

```mzsql
SELECT substring('abcdefg', 3) AS substr;
```
```nofmt
 substr
--------
 cdefg
```

 <hr/>

```mzsql
SELECT substring('abcdefg', 3, 3) AS substr;
```
```nofmt
 substr
--------
 cde
```