---
title: "left"
description: "Returns count characters from the left side of string, where count and string are the arguments to the function."
---

# left

> Returns count characters from the left side of string, where count and string are the arguments to the function.

**This function is used by Ignition's Expression language.**

## Description
## Syntax
`left(string, charCount)`

### Parameters

| Type | Parameter | Description |
|---|---|---|
| String | `string` | The starting string. |
| Integer | `charCount` | The number of characters to return. |

### Results
**String** - A string that is the first charCount number of characters of the specified string.

## Examples
```python title="Code Snippet"
left("hello", 2) //returns "he"
```
```python title="Code Snippet"
left("hello", 0) //returns ""
```
```python title="Code Snippet"
left("hello", 5) //returns "hello"
```