---
{
    "title": "left",
    "language": "en"
}
---

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# left
## Description
### Syntax

`VARCHAR left (VARCHAR str)`


It returns the left part of a string of specified length, length is char length not the byte size.

## example

```
mysql> select left("Hello doris",5);
+------------------------+
| left('Hello doris', 5) |
+------------------------+
| Hello                  |
+------------------------+
```
## keyword
LEFT