How to use the LEFT function
The LEFT function extracts a specific number of characters always starting from the left.
Excel Function Syntax
LEFT(text, [num_chars])
Arguments
| text | Text string or a cell reference to a text string. |
| [num_chars] | The number of characters to extract. Optional. If this argument is not entered only the first character is extracted. |
Example
This extensive function reference list provides detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for many of the functions used in Excel formulas. Click on headers to sort table.
Articles with the 'LEFT' Function
The following 3 articles have formulas that contain the LEFT function.
The LEFT function allows you to extract a string from a cell with a specific number of characters, however, if […]
The formula in cell C3 grabs the first word in B3 using a blank as the delimiting character. =LEFT(B3,SEARCH(" ",B3)-1) […]
Sum cells containing numbers and text based on a condition
Question: I want to sum cells that have a "C" and a decimal number. The cells have other numbers and […]
Functions in 'Text'
The LEFT function function is one of many functions in the 'Text' category.
The ASC function converts full-width (double-byte) characters to half-width (single-byte) characters. This function is for double-byte character set (DBCS) languages. […]
Use CHAR function to convert a number to the corresponding character. This is determined by your computers character set. Windows ANSI […]
The CLEAN function deletes nonprintable characters in a value, more specifically, it is designed to delete the first 32 nonprinting […]
The CODE function returns a specific number for the first character of the text argument, determined by your computers character set. […]
How to use the CONCAT function
The CONCAT function concatenates values from multiple cells. There is, however, no delimiting character or a way to ignore empty […]
How to use the CONCATENATE function
The CONCATENATE function lets you add text strings into one single text string. The function has been replaced by the […]
The EXACT function allows you to check if two values are precisely the same, it returns TRUE or FALSE. The […]
The FIND function returns the position of a specific string in another string, reading left to right. Note, the FIND function […]
The FIXED function rounds a number to the specified number of decimals, formats the number in decimal format using a […]
The LEFT function extracts a specific number of characters always starting from the left. Excel Function Syntax LEFT(text, [num_chars]) Arguments […]
The LEN function returns the number of characters in a cell value. Formula in cell D3: =LEN(B3) Cell B7 contains […]
The LOWER function converts a value to lower case letters. Formula in cell C3: =LOWER(B3) Excel Function Syntax LOWER(text) Arguments […]
The MID function returns a substring from a string based on the starting position and the number of characters you want […]
The REPT function repeats a specific text a chosen number of times. Formula in cell D3: =REPT(B3,C3) Excel Function Syntax […]
The RIGHT function extracts a specific number of characters always starting from the right. Excel Function Syntax RIGHT(text,[num_chars]) Arguments text […]
How to use the SEARCH function
Returns a number representing the position a substring is, if found in a textstring. FIND is case sensitive and SEARCH is not.
How to use the SUBSTITUTE function
The SUBSTITUTE function replaces a specific text string in a value. Case sensitive. Formula in cell E3: =SUBSTITUTE(B3,C3,D3) Excel Function […]
The T function returns a text value if the argument is a text value. Formula in cell C3: =T(B3) The […]
This article demonstrates how to use the TEXT function in great detail. The formula in cell D3 formats the number […]
How to use the TEXTJOIN function
The TEXTJOIN function is a relatively new function introduced in Excel 2019, it is like the CONCATENATE function on steroids […]
The picture above shows you values that have multiple leading and trailing blanks, sometimes also between words. The TRIM function […]
How to use the UNICHAR function
Use the UNICHAR function to calculate a character based on a number. Excel Function Syntax UNICHAR(number) Arguments number Required. The […]
How to use the UNICODE function
Use the UNICODE function to return a Unicode number based on a character. Excel Function Syntax UNICHAR(text) Arguments text Required. […]
Converts a value to upper case letters. Formula in cell C3: =UPPER(B3) Excel Function Syntax UPPER(text) Arguments text Value to convert. Required. Excel […]
Converts a text string that represents a number to a number. This function is included for compatibility with other software. […]
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