LEFT
Returns the part of a character string starting at a specified number of characters from the left.
Syntax
LEFT ( character_expression , integer_expression )
Arguments
character_expression
Is an expression of character or binary data. character_expression can be a constant, variable, or column. character_expression must be of a data type that can be implicitly convertible to varchar. Otherwise, use the CAST function to explicitly convert character_expression.
integer_expression
Is a positive whole number. If integer_expression is negative, a null string is returned.
Return Types
varchar
Remarks
Compatibility levels can affect return values. For more information about compatibility levels, see sp_dbcmptlevel.
Examples
A. Use LEFT with a column
This example returns the five leftmost characters of each book title.
USE pubs
GO
SELECT LEFT(title, 5)
FROM titles
ORDER BY title_id
GO
Here is the result set:
-----
The B
Cooki
You C
Strai
Silic
The G
The P
But I
Secre
Net E
Compu
Is An
Life
Prolo
Emoti
Onion
Fifty
Sushi
(18 row(s) affected)
B. Use LEFT with a character string
This example uses LEFT to return the two leftmost characters of the character string abcdefg.
SELECT LEFT('abcdefg',2)
GO
Here is the result set:
--
ab
(1 row(s) affected)