length

Syntax

string length(string $columnName)

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

/*
 * Assume MySQL database
 */
$sql = $db->length(some_string_field);
 
/*
 * Returns: LENGTH(TRIM(some_string_field);
*/

/*
 * Assume Firebird database
 */
$sql = $db->length(some_string_field);
 
/*
 * Returns: CHAR_LEN(TRIM(some_string_field);
*/