BeginnerText
Syntax
=LEFT(text, [num_chars])| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
text | The text or cell. |
num_chars | How many characters to take. 1 if left out. |
Examples with results
Every result below is calculated by the practice engine on the sample data shown, not typed in by hand.
Examples that need no data
=LEFT("Dubai Marina",5)The first five characters
Contact list pasted from an email (fictional)
| Row | A | B |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw name | |
| 2 | amira HASSAN | Amira.Hassan@Example.com |
| 3 | ben CARTER | ben.carter@example.com |
| 4 | CHEN wei | CHEN.WEI@EXAMPLE.COM |
| 5 | dina ali | dina.ali@example.com |
=LEFT(B3,FIND("@",B3)-1)The part of an email before the @
Try it yourself
Change the formula or switch to other sample data.
Press Calculate to see the result.
The practice box runs in your browser with BDK’s own calculator, which covers about 60 common functions. Cell references work as in Excel (B2, B2:B9). Your formulas are not saved or sent anywhere. For anything unusual, check the result in Excel itself.
How people use LEFT at work
- Administration
Take the first letters of a product code.
Data: Stock levels (fictional)=LEFT(A2,1) - HR
Initials from a name.
Data: Team list (fictional)=LEFT(A2,1)&LEFT(MID(A2,FIND(" ",A2)+1,20),1)
Common mistakes and tips
- The result is text. Wrap it in VALUE if you need a number.
Works in
All versions of Excel, and Google Sheets.
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