# Left

Returns the count of characters from the beginning of a string argument.

See also Right, Mid, and Len.

### Syntax

    Left(string, count)

##### string

String from which the leftmost characters are retrieved.

##### count

Positive integer indicating how many characters to return.

### Examples

    <!---  This example shows the use of Left --->
    <HTML>
    <HEAD>
    <TITLE>
    Left Example
    </TITLE>
    </HEAD>

    <BODY BGCOLOR=silver>
    <H3>Left Example</H3>

    <CFIF IsDefined("Form.MyText")>
    <!--- if len is 0, then err --->
        <CFIF Len(FORM.myText) is not 0>
            <CFIF Len(FORM.myText) LTE FORM.RemoveChars>
            <P>Your string <CFOUTPUT>#FORM.myText#</CFOUTPUT>
            only has <CFOUTPUT>#Len(FORM.myText)#</CFOUTPUT>
            characters.  You cannot output the <CFOUTPUT>#FORM.removeChars#
              </CFOUTPUT>
            leftmost characters of this string because it is not long enough.
            <CFELSE>
            <P>Your original string: <CFOUTPUT>#FORM.myText#</CFOUTPUT>
            <P>Your changed string, showing only the
              <CFOUTPUT>#FORM.removeChars#</CFOUTPUT> leftmost characters:
            <CFOUTPUT>#Left(Form.myText, FORM.removeChars)#
            </CFOUTPUT>
            </CFIF>
        <CFELSE>
        <P>Please enter a string
        </CFIF>
    </CFIF>
    ...