====== length ======
~~NOTOC~~
<WRAP right box>
==Syntax==
  string length(string $columnName)
</WRAP>
===== Description =====
The method ''length()'' returns a database specific SQL statement that returns the length of data in a field. This happens even if the field is defined as a fixed length CHAR field, because the field is trimmed before the length of the data is obtained.
===== Usage =====
<code php>
/*
 * Assume MySQL database
 */
$sql = $db->length(some_string_field);

/*
 * Returns: LENGTH(TRIM(some_string_field);
*/
</code>

<code php>
/*
 * Assume Firebird database
 */
$sql = $db->length(some_string_field);

/*
 * Returns: CHAR_LEN(TRIM(some_string_field);
*/
</code>