Returns the number of bytes in a string.

Syntax

BYTE_LENGTH( string-expression )

Parameters

Returns

INT

Remarks

Trailing white space characters in the string-expression are included in the length returned.

The return value of a NULL string is NULL.

If the string is in a multibyte character set, the BYTE_LENGTH value may differ from the number of characters returned by CHAR_LENGTH.

This function supports NCHAR inputs and/or outputs.

See also

• CHAR_LENGTH function [String]
• DATALENGTH function [System]
• LENGTH function [String]
• String functions

Standards and compatibility

Example

The following statement returns the value 12.

SELECT BYTE_LENGTH( 'Test Message' );