SQL Server: LEFT Function

This SQL Server tutorial explains how to use the LEFT function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) with syntax and examples.

Description

In SQL Server (Transact-SQL), the LEFT function allows you to extract a substring from a string, starting from the left-most character.

Syntax

The syntax for the LEFT function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL) is:

LEFT( string, number_of_characters )

Parameters or Arguments

string

The string that you wish to extract from.

number_of_characters

The number of characters that you wish to extract starting from the left-most character.

Note

• If the number_of_characters exceeds the length of the string, the LEFT function will return string.

Applies To

The LEFT function can be used in the following versions of SQL Server (Transact-SQL):

• SQL Server 2017, SQL Server 2016, SQL Server 2014, SQL Server 2012, SQL Server 2008 R2, SQL Server 2008, SQL Server 2005

Example

Let’s look at some SQL Server LEFT function examples and explore how to use the LEFT function in SQL Server (Transact-SQL).

For example:

SELECT LEFT('TechOnTheNet.com', 12);
Result: 'TechOnTheNet'

SELECT LEFT('TechOnTheNet.com', 4);
Result: 'Tech'

SELECT LEFT('Tech On The Net', 8);
Result: 'Tech On '

SELECT LEFT('Tech On The Net', 100);
Result: 'Tech On the Net'