Left |
Description
Returns the leftmost count characters in a string.
Returns
String; the first count characters in the string parameter.
Category
String functions
Function syntax

    Left(string, count)

See also
Right, Mid, Len
Parameters

Parameter | Description
string | A string or a variable that contains one.
count | A positive integer or a variable that contains one. Number of characters to return.

Example

    <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>

    <form action="#CGI.ScriptName#" method="POST">
    <p>Type in some text
    <br>
    <input type="Text" name="MyText">
    <p>How many characters from the left do you want to show?
    <select name="RemoveChars">
       <option value="1">1
       <option value="3" selected>3
       <option value="5">5
       <option value="7">7
       <option value="9">9</select>
    <input type="Submit" name="Remove characters">
    </form>

string |
A string or a variable that contains one.

count |
A positive integer or a variable that contains one. Number of characters to return.