SQL Server String REVERSE() Function

SQL Server REVERSE() Function

The SQL Server REVERSE() function is used to reverse the order of characters in a string. This function is useful for various string manipulation tasks, such as reversing text data or generating palindromes.

Syntax

SELECT REVERSE(string);

The REVERSE() function takes a single argument:

  • string: The string to be reversed.

Example SQL Server REVERSE() Function Queries

Let's look at some examples of SQL Server REVERSE() function queries:

1. Basic REVERSE() Example

SELECT REVERSE('Hello World') AS result;

This query reverses the string 'Hello World'. The result will be:

result
-------------
dlrO wolleH

2. REVERSE() with a Column

SELECT first_name, REVERSE(first_name) AS reversed_name
FROM employees;

This query reverses the first_name column for each employee. The result will show the first_name and the reversed version as reversed_name.

3. REVERSE() with a Variable

DECLARE @myString VARCHAR(50);
SET @myString = 'SQL Server';
SELECT REVERSE(@myString) AS result;

This query uses a variable to store a string and then reverses it. The result will be:

result
-----------
revreS LQS

Full Example

Let's go through a complete example that includes creating a table, inserting data, and using the REVERSE() function.

Step 1: Creating a Table

This step involves creating a new table named example_table to store some sample data.

CREATE TABLE example_table (
    id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    description VARCHAR(50)
);

In this example, we create a table named example_table with columns for id and description.

Step 2: Inserting Data into the Table

This step involves inserting some sample data into the example_table.

INSERT INTO example_table (id, description) VALUES (1, 'Apple');
INSERT INTO example_table (id, description) VALUES (2, 'Banana');
INSERT INTO example_table (id, description) VALUES (3, 'Cherry');

Here, we insert data into the example_table.

Step 3: Using the REVERSE() Function

This step involves using the REVERSE() function to reverse the description column.

SELECT id, description, REVERSE(description) AS reversed_description
FROM example_table;

This query retrieves the id, description, and the reversed version of the description column for each row in the example_table. The result will be:

id  description  reversed_description
--- ------------ ---------------------
1   Apple        elppA
2   Banana       ananaB
3   Cherry       yrrehC

Conclusion

The SQL Server REVERSE() function is a powerful tool for reversing the order of characters in a string. Understanding how to use the REVERSE() function and its syntax is essential for effective string manipulation and data processing in SQL Server.