Excel LEFT() Function
The LEFT () function in excel returns the leftmost characters from a text value. This function is used for data manipulation.
Syntax
LEFT(Text, [num_chars])
Parameter
Text (required)- This parameter represents the string from which you want to find letters.
num_chars(optional)- This parameter represents the number of characters you want to read from the left.
Category
Text
Return
This function returns the number of specified characters from the start of the string.
Example 1
Objective: Use the LEFT function on the following strings
| Text | Result | Formula |
| Beautiful World | Beaut | =LEFT(A19,5) |
| EXCEL IS WOW | EXCEL IS | =LEFT(A20,8) |
| Welcome to Excel ; | Welcome to Exce | =LEFT(A21,15) |
| 876 | 8 | =LEFT(A22,1) |
| SUPERSTORE IS opened; | SUPERSTORE IS | =LEFT(A23,LEN(A23)-7) |
Example 2
Objective: Extract FirstName using functions left function
| Name | First Name | Formula Used |
| Sukla Pati | Sukla P | =LEFT(B7,7) |
| Rachel Buffay | Rachel | =LEFT(B8,7) |
| Joey Mitchell | Joey Mi | =LEFT(B9,7) |
| Chandler Kumar Patra | Chandle | =LEFT(B8,7) |
| Delia Azahari | Delia A | =LEFT(B9,7) |
| Mar Martin Castellano | Mar Mar | =LEFT(B10,7) |
| Daniel Oso | Daniel | =LEFT(B11,7) |
Example 3
Objective: Use the LEFT function to get the results in the 2nd column
| Text | Result | Formula |
| Phone Number is +(0)1234 | Phone Number is +( | =LEFT(A19,18) |
| This is used for data cleaning | This is used for data cle | =LEFT(A19,25) |