LEFT (T-SQL)

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

Note 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)

See Also