}

    /**
     * Removes whitespace from the left side of the string.
     *
     * @param text
     *            The text to trim
     * @return The resulting string
     */
    public static final String ltrim(final String text) {
        return ltrim(text, null);
    }

    /**
     * Removes the specified characters from the left side of the string.
     *
     * @param text