[discrete]
[[esql-left]]
=== `LEFT`

*Syntax*

[.text-center]
image::esql/functions/signature/left.svg[Embedded,opts=inline]

*Parameters*

`str`::
The string from which to return a substring.

`length`::
The number of characters to return.

*Description*

Returns the substring that extracts 'length' chars from 'str' starting
from the left.

*Supported types*

include::types/left.asciidoc[]

*Example*

[source.merge.styled,esql]
----
include::{esql-specs}/string.csv-spec[tag=left]
----
[%header.monospaced.styled,format=dsv,separator=|]
|===
include::{esql-specs}/string.csv-spec[tag=left-result]
|===