Left Function

Returns a FixStr (String) containing a specified number of characters from the left side of a string.

Syntax

Left(string, length)

The Left function syntax has these named arguments:

Part Description
string

Required. String expression from which the leftmost characters are returned. If string contains Null, Null is returned.

length

Required; Long. Numeric expression indicating how many characters to return. If 0, a zero-length string ("") is returned. If greater than or equal to the number of characters in string, the entire string is returned.

Remarks

To determine the number of characters in string, use the Len function.

The Left$ form returns String values. The Left form returns FixStr values.

Example

This example uses the Left function to return a specified number of characters from the left side of a string.

Dim AnyString, MyStr
AnyString = "Hi all"       ' Define string.
MyStr = Left(AnyString, 1)      ' Returns "H".
MyStr = Left(AnyString, 4)      ' Returns "Hi a".
MyStr = Left(AnyString, 20)     ' Returns "Hi all".

 

See Also

Len Function, Mid Function , Right Function