> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://documentation.astera.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://documentation.astera.com/dataprep/cleanse/remove.md).
# Remove
In this document, you’ll learn how to use the *Remove* function in Astera Dataprep to clean unwanted characters from your data.
1. To begin, click on the *Cleanse* option in the toolbar and select *Remove* from the drop-down.
2. This will open the *Recipe Configuration – Remove* panel.
3. In this panel, you’ll configure the following options:
* **Apply to entire dataset:** The changes will be applied to the entire dataset.
* **Apply to specific column(s):** Allows you to apply changes to specific columns.
Under the *Remove* section, you can choose what to remove:
* All whitespaces
* Leading and trailing whitespaces
* Tabs and line breaks
* Duplicate whitespaces
* Letters
* Digits
* Punctuations
* Specified characters – You can enter one or more characters (separated by commas) to be removed.
4. Once you’re done, click *Apply.* For example, in our use case the Grid will show that all whitespaces and hyphens ("-") have been removed from the *ShipPostalCode* column.
5. Alternatively, you can right-click on a column in the Grid and go to *Cleanse > Remove*. The same configuration panel will appear with the column already selected. Make any changes you need and click *Apply* to clean the data.
---
# Agent Instructions
This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. Learn more at gitbook.com.
## Querying This Documentation
If you need additional information that is not directly available in this page, you can query the documentation dynamically by asking a question.
Perform an HTTP GET request on the current page URL with the `ask` query parameter, and the optional `goal` query parameter:
```
GET https://documentation.astera.com/dataprep/cleanse/remove.md?ask=&goal=
```
`ask` is the immediate question: it should be specific, self-contained, and written in natural language.
`goal` is optional and describes the broader end goal you are ultimately trying to accomplish on behalf of the user. GitBook uses it to tailor the answer towards what is most useful for that goal.
The response will contain a direct answer to the question and relevant excerpts and sources from the documentation.
Use this mechanism when the answer is not explicitly present in the current page, you need clarification or additional context, or you want to retrieve related documentation sections.