Skip to main content

Explore the new, free version of Kutools for Outlook today!

Excel LEFT function

Author: Sun Last Modified: 2024-10-28
show the usage of LEFT function

Description

The LEFT function extracts the given number of characters from the left side of a supplied string. For instance, =LEFT("123-234",3) extracts the first 3 characters from the left side of "123-234" and returns "123".

Syntax and arguments

Formula syntax

LEFT(text,[num_chars])

Arguments

  • Text: Required, the string you want to extract the given number of characters from its left side.
  • Num_chars: it specifies the number of characters you extract from left side of the given text string. If it is omitted, it is assumed to 1, which means to extract 1 character from left side of the give text string. And it must be greater than zero, if it is zero, the LEFT function returns blank, if it is smaller than zero, the LEFT function returns #VALUE! error. If it is greater than the length of the given text string, the LEFT function returns all of the string.

Return Value

The LEFT function extracts string from left of the text string.

Usage and Examples

String Num_Chars Result  Formula Description
124-234-34 4 124 =LEFT(B3,C3) Extract 4 characters from left side of B3
Apple Omit A =LEFT(B4) Extract 1(defaults) character from left side of B4

Download sample

left-function.xlsx

Relative Functions:

  • Excel DOLLAR Function
    The CHAR function is used to convert a number to text in the currency formatting, with the decimals rounded to the given number of decimal places.

  • Excel FIND Function
    The FIND function is used to find a string within another string, and returns the starting position of the string inside another one.

  • Excel CODE Function
    The CODE function returns a numeric code of a character or the first character in a given text string cell.

The Best Office Productivity Tools

Kutools for Excel - Helps You To Stand Out From Crowd

🤖 Kutools AI Aide: Revolutionize data analysis based on: Intelligent Execution   |  Generate Code  |  Create Custom Formulas  |  Analyze Data and Generate Charts  |  Invoke Kutools Functions…
Popular Features: Find, Highlight or Identify Duplicates  |  Delete Blank Rows  |  Combine Columns or Cells without Losing Data  |  Round without Formula ...
Super VLookup: Multiple Criteria  |  Multiple Value  |  Across Multi-Sheets  |  Fuzzy Lookup...
Adv. Drop-down List: Easy Drop Down List  |  Dependent Drop Down List  |  Multi-select Drop Down List...
Column Manager: Add a Specific Number of Columns  |  Move Columns  |  Toggle Visibility Status of Hidden Columns  |  Compare Columns to Select Same & Different Cells ...
Featured Features: Grid Focus  |  Design View  |  Big Formula Bar  |  Workbook & Sheet Manager | Resource Library (Auto Text)  |  Date Picker  |  Combine Worksheets  |  Encrypt/Decrypt Cells  |  Send Emails by List  |  Super Filter  |  Special Filter (filter bold/italic/strikethrough...) ...
Top 15 Toolsets:  12 Text Tools (Add Text, Remove Characters ...)  |  50+ Chart Types (Gantt Chart ...)  |  40+ Practical Formulas (Calculate age based on birthday ...)  |  19 Insertion Tools (Insert QR Code, Insert Picture from Path ...)  |  12 Conversion Tools (Numbers to Words, Currency Conversion ...)  |  7 Merge & Split Tools (Advanced Combine Rows, Split Excel Cells ...)  |  ... and more
Use Kutools in your preferred language – supports English, Spanish, German, French, Chinese, and 40+ others!

Kutools for Excel Boasts Over 300 Features, Ensuring That What You Need is Just A Click Away...

Office Tab - Enable Tabbed Reading and Editing in Microsoft Office (include Excel)

  • One second to switch between dozens of open documents!
  • Reduce hundreds of mouse clicks for you every day, say goodbye to mouse hand.
  • Increases your productivity by 50% when viewing and editing multiple documents.
  • Brings Efficient Tabs to Office (include Excel), Just Like Chrome, Edge and Firefox.