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# Left

> Returns a substring that begins at the start of a given string.

Returns a substring that begins at the start of a given string.

## Usage

`Left(string, number)`

**string** (required) The string from which a left substring will be returned.

**number** (required) The desired length of the returned substring. A negative number removes the number of characters from the end of the string.

## Example

`Left("Dec. 12, 1950", 3)`

* Returns “Dec”

`Left("St. Louis", 20)`

* Returns “St. Louis”
* If number is greater than the length of string, the result is the original string.

`Left("San Francisco", -5)`

* Returns “San Fran” because it is the result of removing 5 letters from the end.

## Related resources

* [Find](/docs/find)
* [Mid](/docs/mid)
* [Right](/docs/right)