# `SUBSTRING`

**Applies to:** ✅ Data 360 SQL ✅ Tableau Hyper API

Extracts a substring from a string starting at a specified position.

## Syntax

```sql
substring(<string> from <start> for <count>)
```

## Arguments

### Required

- `<string>`: The source string.
- `<start>`: The starting position (1-based).
- `<count>`: The number of characters to extract.

## Returns

Returns a text value containing the extracted substring.

## Considerations

- Position indexing is 1-based.
- If `<start>` plus `<count>` exceeds the string length, the function returns characters to the end of string.
- Same as `substr(string from start for count)`.

## Examples

### Extract Substring

Extract characters from a string.

```sql
SELECT substring('Thomas' from 2 for 3) AS result;
```

Returns `'hom'`, extracting 3 characters starting at position 2.

## Related Documentation

- [String Types](/docs/data/data-cloud-query-guide/references/dc-sql-reference/string.md)