LEFT function

This function will return the left most characters of a text string based on a number specified.

Syntax

LEFT(Text, Number)

  • Text (required) – This is the text string you want to return the left most characters from.
  • Number (optional) – This is the number of characters you want returned. If no value is entered, only the first character will be returned.

Example

In this example we get the first few characters of a text string. Notice that negative numbers result in a #VALUE! error and non whole numbers are rounded down to the whole integer.

=LEFT(A2,B2)

LEFT

About the Author

John MacDougall

John MacDougall

John is a Microsoft MVP and qualified actuary with over 15 years of experience. He has worked in a variety of industries, including insurance, ad tech, and most recently Power Platform consulting. He is a keen problem solver and has a passion for using technology to make businesses more efficient.

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