LEFT$ Function

LEFT$(string-expression, integer-expression)

Returns the leftmost characters from a string. The second parameter specifies how many characters to return.

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Examples

PRINT LEFT$("RetroRocket", 5)

Produces Retro.

REM Extract drive letter from a path
path$ = "C:/users/alice"
PRINT LEFT$(path$, 2)

Produces C:.

REM Safely clip a string
msg$ = "Hello, world!"
PRINT LEFT$(msg$, 80)

Prints the message, clipped to 80 characters if longer.

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Notes

• If the length requested is greater than the string length, the entire string is returned.
• If the length is 0, an empty string is returned.
• Negative lengths cause an error.
• Result is always a new string, the original is unchanged.

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See also: MID$ · RIGHT$ · LEN