LEFT() Function in MySQL

The LEFT() function in MySQL is used to extract a specified number of characters from the left side of a given string. It uses its second argument to decide, how many characters it should return. 

Syntax:  

LEFT (str, len)

Parameter: This function accepts two parameters as mentioned above and described below : 

• str: The given string from whose left side a number of characters are to be extracted. 
   
• len: The number of characters to extract. If this parameter is larger than the number of characters in the string, this function will return the actual string. 
   

Returns: It returns a number of characters from a string (starting from left). 

Example 1: 
Applying LEFT() Function to a given string.  

SELECT LEFT("geeksforgeeks", 4) AS Left_Str;

Output: 

Example 2: 
Applying Left() Function to a number.  

SELECT LEFT(12345678, 4) AS Left_Num;

Output: 

Example 3: 
Applying LEFT() Function to a given string when len > characters in the string.  

SELECT LEFT("geeksforgeeks", 20) AS Left_Str;

Output : 

Example 4: 
Applying LEFT() Function to a column in a table. 

Table : Student_Details 

SELECT Student_Name, LEFT(Student_Email, 9) AS Email_Name 
FROM Student_Details;

Output: