Question

would someone please explain why select len(0x0a000b) returns 3? does len count bytes? and why select left(0x0a000b, 1) returns nothing? i expected 0x0a (if len counts bytes)…

i am using mssql 2005

thanks
konstantin

Answer 1

select len(0x0a000b) is returning the length of a string represented by the three bytes 0x0a, 0x00, and 0x0b.

select left(0x0a000b, 1) returns the left-most character of the string, which is a newline character.

Note that select case when left(0x0a000b, 1) = 0x0a then 1 else 0 end returns 1, which indicates you are, indeed, getting the newline character.

Edit: Please see the comments below for additional details.