How do I use LEFT in Excel?
Use LEFT when you want to extract characters from the left side of text. Enter Text, Number of characters in that order, then add optional arguments when needed.
Excel Function
LEFT
Returns leftmost characters from text.
LEFT(text, [num_chars])Arguments
text
RequiredValue for text.
num_chars
OptionalEnter a numeric value.
Practice Preview
Use LEFT to extract the first 3 characters of cell B2 (Name in column B).
Example Table
| # | AEmployee ID | BName | CEmail | DPayment Amount | EAmount Text |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | E001 | Taro Tanaka | t.tanaka@example.com | 1200 | 1200 |
| 3 | E002 | Hanako Suzuki | h.suzuki@example.com | 980 | 980 |
| 4 | E003 | Ken Sato | k.sato@example.com | 2450 | 2450 |
| 5 | E004 | Aya Takahashi | a.takahashi@example.com | 3000 | 3000 |
| 6 | |||||
| 7 | |||||
| 8 |
How to Use (Formula)
=LEFT(B2, 3)Result
Tar
Practice This Function
LEFT FAQ
Where can I practice LEFT?
Use the "Start Function Practice" button to jump straight into LEFT drills.
What arguments does LEFT use?
The main arguments are Text, Number of characters. Start with the required ones, then add optional arguments if needed.