# Overview

The **`LENGTH()` function** is used to return the number of characters in a string. 

## Syntax
The syntax for this function is as follows: 
``` 
LENGTH(string)
```

## Parameter
- **`string`**: This represents the string whose length is to be returned.

## Code example

The following code demonstrates how to use the `LENGTH()` function in SQL:


CREATE TABLE Person (
    ID int,
    first_name varchar(50),
    last_name varchar (50),
    gender varchar(10)
);

-- Insert data
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (1,'Sharon', 'Peller','Female');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (2,'Paul', 'Dons','Male');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (3,'Ameera', 'Abedayo','Female');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (4,'Maria', 'Elijah','Female');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (5,'David', 'Hassan','Male');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (6,'Niniola', 'Disu','Female');
INSERT INTO Person
VALUES (8,'Joe', 'Smith','Male');

-- Query 
SELECT LENGTH(first_name) AS no_of_char, gender
FROM Person;

## Code explanation
In the code above:
- Lines 1 to 7: We create a table called `Person` which has the columns `id`, `name`, and `gender`. 
- Lines 9 to 22: We add data into the `Person` table.
- Lines 25 to 26: We use the `LENGTH()` function to return the number of characters in the `first_name` columns to form a new column called `no_of_char`.



 




How to use the LENGTH() function in SQL

The LENGTH() function returns the number of characters in a string. Syntax: LENGTH(string). Example: it forms a new column with character counts.