Syntax

LEFT(string, [number_of_characters])

Arguments

The printed syntax lists 2 argument(s), in order:

  • string
  • umber_of_character optional

“optional” marks an argument Google prints in square brackets; “repeatable” marks one Google prints with “…”.

Description from Google Docs Editors Help

“Returns a substring from the beginning of a specified string.”

Google’s help article for LEFT →

Source: Google Docs Editors Help, “Google Sheets function list” (support.google.com/docs/table/25273), record record 432 of 516, data fetched 28 September 2026. Data month: September 2026.