# xarray.core.accessor_str.StringAccessor.lstrip

#### StringAccessor.lstrip(to_strip=None)[[source]](https://github.com/pydata/xarray/blob/main/xarray/core/accessor_str.py#L1610-L1631)

Remove leading characters.

Strip whitespaces (including newlines) or a set of specified characters
from each string in the array from the left side.

to_strip can either be a `str` or array-like of `str`.
If array-like, it will be broadcast and applied elementwise.

* **Parameters:**
  **to_strip** ([`str`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/stdtypes.html#str) or [array-like](https://numpy.org/doc/stable/glossary.html#term-array_like) of [`str`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/stdtypes.html#str) or [`None`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/constants.html#None), *default*: [`None`](https://docs.python.org/3/builtins/constants.html#None)) – Specifying the set of characters to be removed.
  All combinations of this set of characters will be stripped.
  If None then whitespaces are removed. If array-like, it is broadcast.
* **Returns:**
  **stripped** (`same type as values`)