In MySQL, the SUBSTRING() (or SUBSTR()) function supports negative values for the starting position.

Syntax

Standard SQL

SUBSTRING(string, start, length)
-- or
SUBSTR(string, start, length)

• string : The source string.
• start : The starting position (1-based index).
• length : (Optional) Number of characters to extract.

Examples

1. Extracting a substring

SELECT SUBSTRING('Hello World', 7, 5);
-- or
SELECT SUBSTR('Hello World', 7, 5);

Result:

World

2. Without length (returns from start to end)

SELECT SUBSTRING('abcdef', 3);
-- or
SELECT SUBSTR('abcdef', 3);

Result:

cdef