---
page_title: trim function reference
description: |-
  The `trim` function removes the specified characters from the start and end of
  a given string. 
---

# `trim` Function

`trim` removes the specified characters from the start and end of the given
string.

## Examples

```shell-session
> trim("?!hello?!", "!?")
hello
```

## Related Functions

- [`trimprefix`](/packer/docs/templates/hcl_templates/functions/string/trimprefix) removes a word from the start of a string.
- [`trimsuffix`](/packer/docs/templates/hcl_templates/functions/string/trimsuffix) removes a word from the end of a string.
- [`trimspace`](/packer/docs/templates/hcl_templates/functions/string/trimspace) removes all types of whitespace from
  both the start and the end of a string.
