{"id":3114,"date":"2025-01-27T05:16:56","date_gmt":"2025-01-27T12:16:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/?page_id=3114"},"modified":"2025-02-04T07:05:28","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T14:05:28","slug":"sql-left","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-string-functions\/sql-left\/","title":{"rendered":"SQL LEFT Function"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n<p><strong>Summary<\/strong>: in this tutorial, you&#8217;ll learn how to use the SQL <code>LEFT<\/code> function to return a specified number of characters from the beginning of a string.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='introduction-to-the-sql-left-function'>Introduction to the SQL LEFT Function <a href=\"#introduction-to-the-sql-left-function\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"introduction-to-the-sql-left-function\" title=\"Anchor for Introduction to the SQL LEFT Function\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>In SQL, the <code>LEFT<\/code> function takes a string and returns a specified number of characters from the beginning of a string.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Here&#8217;s the syntax of the <code>LEFT<\/code> function:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-1\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\">LEFT(STRING, number_of_characters)<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-1\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <code>LEFT<\/code> function takes two parameters:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><code>string<\/code>: The input string from which you want to return the character.<\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><code>number_of_characters<\/code>: The number of characters you want to return from the input string.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <code>LEFT()<\/code> function returns a string that contains a specified number of characters from the left of the input string.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The <code>LEFT()<\/code> function returns <code>NULL<\/code> if the input string or the <code>number_of_characters<\/code> is <code>NULL<\/code>.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='basic-sql-left-function-example'>Basic SQL LEFT function example <a href=\"#basic-sql-left-function-example\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"basic-sql-left-function-example\" title=\"Anchor for Basic SQL LEFT function example\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The following statement uses the <code>LEFT<\/code> function to return the first three characters from the left of a string:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-2\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">LEFT<\/span>(<span class=\"hljs-string\">'SQL Tutorial'<\/span>, <span class=\"hljs-number\">3<\/span>) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">result<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-2\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/playground\/?q=U0VMRUNUIExFRlQoJ1NRTCBUdXRvcmlhbCcsIDMpIHJlc3VsdDs%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try it<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Output:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-3\" data-shcb-language-name=\"plaintext\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"plaintext\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-plaintext\"> result\r\n--------\r\n SQL<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-3\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">plaintext<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">plaintext<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='extracting-initials-of-last-names'>Extracting initials of last names <a href=\"#extracting-initials-of-last-names\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"extracting-initials-of-last-names\" title=\"Anchor for Extracting initials of last names\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>We&#8217;ll use the <code>employees<\/code> table from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-sample-database\/\">HR sample database<\/a> to demonstrate the <code>LEFT<\/code> function:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"169\" height=\"273\" class=\"wp-image-237\" src=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/03\/employees.png\" alt=\"SQL LEFT Function - employees Table\" \/><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The following <code>SELECT<\/code> statement uses the <code>LEFT<\/code> function to return the initials of last names of employees:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-4\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span>\r\n  last_name,\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">LEFT<\/span>(last_name, <span class=\"hljs-number\">1<\/span>) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">AS<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">initial<\/span>\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span>\r\n  employees\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ORDER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BY<\/span>\r\n  last_name;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-4\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/playground\/?q=U0VMRUNUIGxhc3RfbmFtZSwgTEVGVChsYXN0X25hbWUsIDEpIEFTIGluaXRpYWwgRlJPTSBlbXBsb3llZXMgT1JERVIgQlkgbGFzdF9uYW1lOw%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try it<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Output:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-5\" data-shcb-language-name=\"plaintext\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"plaintext\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-plaintext\">  last_name  | initial\r\n-------------+---------\r\n Austin      | A\r\n Baer        | B\r\n Baida       | B\r\n Bell        | B\r\n Chen        | C\r\n Colmenares  | C\r\n De Haan     | D\r\n...<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-5\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">plaintext<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">plaintext<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='using-the-left-function-in-the-where-clause'>Using the LEFT function in the WHERE clause <a href=\"#using-the-left-function-in-the-where-clause\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"using-the-left-function-in-the-where-clause\" title=\"Anchor for Using the LEFT function in the WHERE clause\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The following statement uses the <code>LEFT<\/code> function in the <code><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-where\/\">WHERE<\/a><\/code> clause to find the employees whose last names start with the letter <code>\"K\"<\/code>:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-6\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span>\r\n  employee_id,\r\n  last_name\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span>\r\n  employees\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">WHERE<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">LEFT<\/span>(last_name, <span class=\"hljs-number\">1<\/span>) = <span class=\"hljs-string\">'K'<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-6\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/playground\/?q=U0VMRUNUIGVtcGxveWVlX2lkLCBsYXN0X25hbWUgRlJPTSBlbXBsb3llZXMgV0hFUkUgTEVGVChsYXN0X25hbWUsIDEpID0gJ0snOw%3D%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try it<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Output:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-7\" data-shcb-language-name=\"plaintext\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"plaintext\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-plaintext\"> employee_id | last_name\r\n-------------+-----------\r\n         100 | King\r\n         101 | Kochhar\r\n         115 | Khoo\r\n         122 | Kaufling\r\n...<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-7\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">plaintext<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">plaintext<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='using-the-left-function-with-an-aggregate-function'>Using the LEFT function with an aggregate function <a href=\"#using-the-left-function-with-an-aggregate-function\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"using-the-left-function-with-an-aggregate-function\" title=\"Anchor for Using the LEFT function with an aggregate function\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The following statement uses the <code>LEFT<\/code> function with the <code><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-aggregate-functions\/sql-count\/\">COUNT<\/a><\/code> aggregate function:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-8\" data-shcb-language-name=\"SQL (Structured Query Language)\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"sql\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-sql\"><span class=\"hljs-keyword\">SELECT<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">LEFT<\/span>(last_name, <span class=\"hljs-number\">1<\/span>) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">initial<\/span>,\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COUNT<\/span>(*) <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">COUNT<\/span>\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">FROM<\/span>\r\n  employees\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">GROUP<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BY<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">LEFT<\/span>(last_name, <span class=\"hljs-number\">1<\/span>)\r\n<span class=\"hljs-keyword\">ORDER<\/span> <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">BY<\/span>\r\n  <span class=\"hljs-keyword\">initial<\/span>;<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-8\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">SQL (Structured Query Language)<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">sql<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/playground\/?q=U0VMRUNUIExFRlQobGFzdF9uYW1lLCAxKSBpbml0aWFsLCBDT1VOVCgqKSBDT1VOVCBGUk9NIGVtcGxveWVlcyBHUk9VUCBCWSBMRUZUKGxhc3RfbmFtZSwgMSkgT1JERVIgQlkgaW5pdGlhbDs%3D\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Try it<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Output:<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<pre class=\"wp-block-code\" aria-describedby=\"shcb-language-9\" data-shcb-language-name=\"plaintext\" data-shcb-language-slug=\"plaintext\"><span><code class=\"hljs language-plaintext\"> initial | count\r\n---------+-------\r\n A       |     1\r\n B       |     3\r\n C       |     2\r\n D       |     1\r\n E       |     2\r\n...<\/code><\/span><small class=\"shcb-language\" id=\"shcb-language-9\"><span class=\"shcb-language__label\">Code language:<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__name\">plaintext<\/span> <span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">(<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__slug\">plaintext<\/span><span class=\"shcb-language__paren\">)<\/span><\/small><\/pre>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>The query returns the initials and the number of employees whose last names match the initials.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='summary'>Summary <a href=\"#summary\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"summary\" title=\"Anchor for Summary\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li>Use the <code>LEFT<\/code> function to extract a specified number of characters from the beginning of a string.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id='databases'>Databases <a href=\"#databases\" class=\"anchor\" id=\"databases\" title=\"Anchor for Databases\">#<\/a><\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pgtutorial.com\/postgresql-string-functions\/postgresql-left\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PostgreSQL LEFT Function<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mysqltutorial.org\/mysql-string-functions\/mysql-left-function\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">MySQL LEFT Function<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.db2tutorial.com\/db2-string-functions\/db2-left\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Db2 LEFT Function<\/a><\/li>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sqlservertutorial.net\/sql-server-string-functions\/sql-server-left-function\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">SQL Server LEFT Function<\/a><\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<div class=\"helpful-block-content\" data-title=\"\">\n\t<header>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-question\">Was this tutorial helpful ?<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wth-thumbs\">\n\t\t\t<button\n\t\t\t\tdata-post=\"3114\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-url=\"https:\/\/www.sqltutorial.org\/sql-string-functions\/sql-left\/\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-post-title=\"SQL LEFT Function\"\n\t\t\t\tdata-response=\"1\"\n\t\t\t\tclass=\"wth-btn-rounded 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