How to use the Excel LEFT function

Excel 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.

Excel CONCAT Function
The CONCAT function joins texts from multiple columns, rows or ranges together.

The Best Office Productivity Tools

Kutools for Excel - Helps You To Stand Out From Crowd

Would you like to complete your daily work quickly and perfectly? Kutools for Excel brings 300 powerful advanced features (Combine workbooks, sum by color, split cell contents, convert date, and so on...) and save 80% time for you.

Designed for 1500 work scenarios, helps you solve 80% Excel problems.
Reduce thousands of keyboard and mouse clicks every day, relieve your tired eyes and hands.
Become an Excel expert in 3 minutes. No longer need to remember any painful formulas and VBA codes.
30-day unlimited free trial. 60-day money back guarantee. Free upgrade and support for 2 years.

Ribbon of Excel (with Kutools for Excel installed)

Read More Download

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, Firefox, And New Internet Explorer.