In Oracle, the TRANSLATE(...USING) function converts its argument into the character set specified for conversions between the database character set and the national character set.

This function is not to be confused with the TRANSLATE() function, which allows you to make several single-character, one-to-one substitutions in one operation.

The TRANSLATE(...USING) function is supported in Oracle primarily for ANSI compatibility. Oracle recommends that we use the TO_CHAR() and TO_NCHAR() functions instead.

Continue reading →

In Oracle, the LENGTH() function returns the length of its argument.

LENGTH() can also be thought of as a group of functions. There are five separate functions; LENGTH(), LENGTHB(), LENGTHC(), LENGTH2(), and LENGTH4(). Each function calculates the length in a different way.

Continue reading →

In Oracle, the INSTR() function searches for a substring in a given string, and returns an integer indicating the position of the first character of this substring. If the substring isn’t found, the function returns 0.

INSTR() requires at least two arguments; the string, and the substring. It also accepts an optional third and fourth arguments that allows you to specify the starting position to search, and which occurrence to search for.

INSTR() can also be thought of as a group of functions. There are five separate functions; INSTR(), INSTRB(), INSTRC(), INSTR2(), and INSTR4(). Each function calculates the length in a different way.

Continue reading →

In Oracle Database, the ASCII() function returns the decimal representation in the database character set of the first character of its argument.

Continue reading →