VBA Function: Left

The VBA Left function returns a specified number of characters from the left of a string.

Usage:

Left(text, num_chars)

Example of Usage

Using the Left function to retrieve a variable number of characters from the left of a string:

Sub example()
    
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 1) 'Returns: w
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 2) 'Returns: ww
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 3) 'Returns: www
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 4) 'Returns: www.
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 5) 'Returns: www.e
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 10) 'Returns: www.excel-
    MsgBox Left("www.excel-pratique.com", 50) 'Returns: www.excel-pratique.com

End Sub

The function that returns a specified number of characters from the right is the Right function.

To extract characters from within a string, you can use the Mid function.