Purpose
Extract text from the left of a string
Return value
One or more characters.
Syntax
=LEFT (text, [num_chars])
Arguments
- text – The text from which to extract characters.
- num_chars – [optional] The number of characters to extract, starting on the left side of text. Default = 1.
Usage notes
Use the LEFT function when you want to extract characters starting at the left side of text.
num_chars is optional and defaults to 1.
LEFT will extract digits from numbers as well. Keep in mind that number formatting (i.e. the currency symbol $) is not part of a number so is not counted or extracted.
