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Java String trim() Method

Last Updated : 11 Jul, 2025
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The trim() method of the String class in Java is used to remove leading and trailing whitespace from a string. The Unicode value of the space character is "\u0020". It does not remove any whitespace in the middle of the string. This method returns a new string with the whitespace removed and leaves the original string unchanged.

Example:

Below is an example that demonstrates the usage of the trim() method in Java.

Java
// Java program to demonstrate the  // usage of the trim() method public class Trim {    public static void main(String[] args) {    String s1 = " Hello, Geeks ";    // Using trim() to remove   // leading and trailing whitespaces  String s2 = s1.trim();    System.out.println("Original String: '" + s1 + "'");  System.out.println("Trimmed String: '" + s2 + "'");  } } 

Output
Original String: ' Hello, Geeks ' Trimmed String: 'Hello, Geeks' 

Syntax of trim() Method

String trimmedString = str.trim();

  • Parameter: The trim() method accepts no parameters. 
  • Return Type: It returns a new string with leading and trailing whitespace removed. If no whitespace exists, it returns the original string unchanged.

Examples of trim() in Java

1. Using trim() to Remove Leading and Trailing Whitespaces

In this example, we will demonstrate how the trim() method works by removing whitespaces from the beginning and end of the string.

Java
// Java program to demonstrate working // of java string trim() method import java.io.*; class GFG {    public static void main (String[] args) {    // Three strings declared  String x = "geeks ";  String y = "for ";  String z = " geeks";    // Printing without trim function  System.out.println(x + y + z);    // Using trim function to get result  System.out.println(x.trim() + y.trim() + z.trim());  } } 

Output
geeks for geeks geeksforgeeks 

Explanation: In this example, the trim() method is used to remove the starting and ending spaces from each string before concatenating them.

2. Use trim() that Does Not Modify the Original String

The trim() method returns the string rather than making changes to the original string.

Example:

Java
// Java program to demonstrate working // of java string trim() method public class Trim {    public static void main(String args[]) {    // String with leading and trailing spaces  String s = " Geeks for Geeks ";  // Printing String after removing the whitespaces  System.out.println(s.trim());  // Printing string to observe original string  System.out.println(s);  } } 

Output
Geeks for Geeks Geeks for Geeks 

Explanation: As we can see, the trim() method returns a new string with the whitespaces removed, but the original string "s" remains unchanged.

3. Use trim() to Compare the Original and Trimmed Strings

When we use the trim() method, we get the original and trimmed string. Both are different, in case we are removing the whitespaces from the original string.

Example:

Java
// Java program to demonstrate working // of java string trim() method public class Trim {    public static void main(String[] args) {    // String with leading and trailing spaces  String s1 = " Geeks For Geeks ";  // Before Trim() method  System.out.println("String 1: " + s1);  System.out.println("Length: " + s1.length());  // Applying trim() method on string s1  String s2 = s1.trim();  // After Trim() method  System.out.println("\nString 2: " + s2);  System.out.println("Length: " + s2.length());  // Comparing both the strings  if (s1 == s2) {  System.out.println("\nEqual");  } else {  System.out.println("\nNot Equal");  }  } } 

Output
String 1: Geeks For Geeks Length: 21 String 2: Geeks For Geeks Length: 15 Not Equal 

Explanation: In this example, the trim() method creates a new string without modifying the original string. As a result, comparing the original string s1 and the trimmed string s2 shows that they are not the same.


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