# ASCII

## Syntax

```sql
ASCII(str)
```

## Description

Returns the numeric ASCII value of the leftmost character of the string argument. Returns `0` if the given string is empty and `NULL` if it is `NULL`.

`ASCII()` works for 8-bit characters.

## Examples

```sql
SELECT ASCII(9);
+----------+
| ASCII(9) |
+----------+
|       57 |
+----------+

SELECT ASCII('9');
+------------+
| ASCII('9') |
+------------+
|         57 |
+------------+

SELECT ASCII('abc');
+--------------+
| ASCII('abc') |
+--------------+
|           97 |
+--------------+
```

<sub>*This page is licensed: GPLv2, originally from*</sub> [<sub>*fill\_help\_tables.sql*</sub>](https://github.com/MariaDB/server/blob/main/scripts/fill_help_tables.sql)

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