# Left()

Returns a substring from beginning of the input string, with a length specified by the count argument.

```
Left( string=string, count=number );
```

**Returns:** string

# Arguments

| Argument | Type | Required | Description | Default |
|----------|------|----------|-------------|---------|
| string | string | Yes | A string or a variable that contains one. |  |
| count | number | Yes | A non-zero integer. A positive value of n will return n characters from the beginning of the string. A negative value of n will return (length - n) characters from the beginning of the string. |  |

# Examples

```cfml

dump( left('abcd',3) ); // abc
dump( left("Peter", -1) ); // Pete

```







# Categories

[Strings](../../categories/string.md)

# See Also

[Right()](right.md), [string.left()](../objects/string/left.md)