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.