> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.wem.io/platform/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.wem.io/platform/wemreference/functions/text/padl.md).

# Padl

{% hint style="info" %}
The **`Padl()`** function keeps prepending a single character to a <mark style="color:blue;">text</mark> until a specified length is reached.

This function is NOT SQL compatible. For more information about SQL compatibility, see our [documentation](/platform/wemreference/sql-compatibility.md).
{% endhint %}

{% hint style="success" %}
Returns a new <mark style="color:green;">text</mark> where the indicated character is prepended as many times as necessary until the indicated length is reached. \
Returns <mark style="color:red;">`Invalid expression`</mark> if input values do not match required type.
{% endhint %}

### Syntax

<details>

<summary><code>Padl(</code><mark style="color:blue;"><code>value</code></mark><code>, </code><mark style="color:blue;"><code>text_length</code></mark><code>, </code><mark style="color:blue;"><code>char</code></mark><code>)</code></summary>

`Padl("forty-two", 15, ".")`\
\&#xNAN;*=> "......forty-two"*

`Padl("forty-two", 15, "WORD")`\
\&#xNAN;*=> "WWWWWWforty-two" (only the FIRST character of the prepend text is used!)*

</details>

### Parameters

<table><thead><tr><th width="150">Name</th><th width="150">Type</th><th width="150" align="center">Required</th><th width="248.15953250810662">Description</th><th data-hidden>Required?</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><code>value</code></mark></td><td>text, numeric</td><td align="center"><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="2611">☑️</span></td><td>a text or a number.</td><td>yes</td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><code>length</code></mark></td><td>numeric</td><td align="center"><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="2611">☑️</span></td><td>the number of characters in the resulting text.</td><td></td></tr><tr><td><mark style="color:blue;"><code>char</code></mark></td><td>text</td><td align="center"><span data-gb-custom-inline data-tag="emoji" data-code="2611">☑️</span></td><td><p>the character to prepend. If this value has more than 1 character, then the </p><p>first character is taken.</p></td><td></td></tr></tbody></table>


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