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SQL REPLICATE Function

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The SQL REPLICATE is one of the SQL String Function, which is used to repeat the existing string for given number of times. This function accepts both character string or binary data, and returns the same type as the specified expression. In this article we will show you, How to write REPLICATE Function in SQL Server with example.

SQL Server REPLICATE Function

The basic syntax of the SQL Server REPLICATE Function is:

SELECT REPLICATE (String_Expression, int_Expression)
FROM [Source]
  • String_Expression: Please specify the valid string. Replicate function will repeat the string present in this String_Expression. This can be character string or binary data.
  • int_Expression: Please specify, how many characters you want to repeat the String_Expression.

SQL REPLICATE Function Example 1

The REPLICATE Function simply repeats the original string with specified number of times. The following query will show multiple ways to use Replicate function.

T-SQL CODE

DECLARE @String VARCHAR(50)
SET @String = 'Learn SQL Server'

SELECT REPLICATE (@String, 3) AS 'SQL Server Replicate' 

SELECT REPLICATE ((@String + ', '), 3) AS 'SQL Server Replicate' 

--Replicating String Directly
SELECT REPLICATE ('Learn T-SQL Server ', 4) AS 'Replicate Result'

OUTPUT

SQL REPLICATE Function 1

ANALYSIS

Below lines of code is used to declare string variable and assigning the string data.

DECLARE @String VARCHAR(50)
SET @String = 'Learn SQL Server'

In below statement, We used REPLICATE function to repeat the @String data for three times. We also assigned new name to that result as ‘SQL Replicate’ using ALIAS Column.

SELECT REPLICATE (@String, 3) AS 'SQL Server Replicate'

Next, we used the Arithmetic Operator to add the extra space between repeated items

SELECT REPLICATE ((@String + ', '), 3) AS 'SQL Server Replicate'

In the next line, We used the string data directly inside the REPLICATE function, and the following statement will repeat ‘Learn T-SQL Server’ for 4 times

SELECT REPLICATE ('Learn T-SQL Server ', 4) AS 'Replicate Result'

SQL REPLICATE Function Example 2

In this example,We are going to use the Replicate function to assign serial numbers to products. For this, We are going to use the below shown data

SQL REPLICATE Function 2

T-SQL CODE

SELECT [EnglishProductName]
      ,[Color]
      ,LEFT([EnglishProductName], 2) +
	    REPLICATE('0', 3)  +
	    RIGHT([EnglishProductName], 2) AS 'Product Serial'
      ,[StandardCost]
      ,[ListPrice]
      ,[DealerPrice]
      ,[SalesAmount]
      ,[TaxAmt]
FROM [SQL Tutorial].[dbo].[Product Sales]

OUTPUT

SQL REPLICATE Function 3

ANALYSIS

In below statement, We used SQL LEFT Function to return leftmost two characters from the [EnglishProductName] column data.

LEFT([EnglishProductName], 2)

Following statement will repeat 0 for 3 times.

REPLICATE('0', 3)

In below statement, We used SQL RIGHT Function to return rightmost two characters from the [EnglishProductName] column data.

RIGHT([EnglishProductName], 2)

Lastly, we used the Arithmetic Operator to concatenate the Result of above three statements. It means, First two characters of English Product Name + Three Zeros + Last two characters of Product Name .

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