The LEFT function returns a specified number of characters from the left side of a string.
| Function Name | LEFT | 
| Description | Returns a specified number of characters starting from the left of an input string. | 
| Arguments | LEFT('STRING', LENGTH) Where: 
 | 
| Returns | STRING. The returned value is a string value that consists of the specified number of characters. The characters are taken from the defined input string, beginning at the first character from the left of the string. | 
Example:
The expression:
LEFT( 'Pipeline', 4 )
returns:
Pipe
(4 characters starting from the left of the 'Pipeline' string).