jQuery trim() Method

What Is trim()?

jQuery.trim(str) (alias $.trim) removes whitespace from the start and end of a string (added in jQuery 1.0). Spaces, tabs, newlines, and non-breaking spaces in the middle are kept.

$.trim(str)  → trimmed string (new string)

$.trim(" hello, how are you? ")  → "hello, how are you?"

// Modern equivalent:
" hello, how are you? ".trim()

How to Use trim()

Pass a string, get a cleaned copy back, then validate or save it.

1. Start with a string that may have edge spaces (form value, paste, API text).
2. Call $.trim(str) — or str.trim() in new code.
3. Use the returned string (the original is unchanged).
4. Optionally check for blank input with trimmed === "".

Pseudocode

function trim(str):
    remove whitespace from start of str
    remove whitespace from end of str
    return new string   // middle unchanged

// Typical flow:
raw = $("#name").val()
name = $.trim(raw)          // or raw.trim()
if name === "":
    show "required"
else:
    save name

Cheat Sheet

Keep these facts handy while cleaning strings with jQuery.

Live Preview

Pick a sample string, run $.trim, and compare before/after.

sample = Official greeting
before → " hello, how are you? "
after  → "hello, how are you?"

jQuery Examples

Short, copy-ready snippets. Open DevTools Console, or use Try It Yourself for a live editor.

var result = $.trim(" hello, how are you? ");

console.log(result);  // "hello, how are you?"

hello, how are you?

var text = "  hello   world  ";
var cleaned = $.trim(text);

console.log(JSON.stringify(cleaned));  // "hello   world"

"hello   world"

var pasted = "\n\t  Save draft  \r\n";
var cleaned = $.trim(pasted);

console.log(JSON.stringify(cleaned));  // "Save draft"

"Save draft"

var raw = "   codetofun   ";

var withJquery = $.trim(raw);
var withNative = raw.trim();

console.log(withJquery === withNative);  // true
console.log(withNative.length);          // 9

true
9

Performance Notes

Trimming is cheap for normal form strings. Prefer one trim when you read the value, then reuse that cleaned string for validation and save.

Key Takeaways