Compact mode

LEFT vs TEXTJOIN vs EXACT

Table of content

Basic Classification Comparison
Usage Context Comparison
Basic Information Comparison
History Comparison
Facts Comparison

Usage Information Comparison
Technical Details Comparison
Evaluation Comparison
Ratings Comparison

Basic Classification Comparison

Function Category 📊

Primary classification of the Excel function based on its main purpose and usage domain, helps users quickly identify function types

For all*

Text

Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data
Operation Type 🔧

Fundamental type of operation or action that the Excel function performs on its inputs

LEFT

Manipulation

LEFT performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Manipulation

TEXTJOIN performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways Click to see all.

EXACT

Comparison

EXACT performs Comparison operations. Excel functions for comparing values and data Click to see all.

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

Target user groups who would benefit most from using this Excel function

For all*

Data Analysts

Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation

LEFT

Administrative Staff

LEFT is designed for Administrative Staff. Excel functions useful for administrative tasks and data management Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Administrative Staff

TEXTJOIN is designed for Administrative Staff. Excel functions useful for administrative tasks and data management Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

For all*

Text Manipulation

Excel functions that modify and format text content

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

LEFT

Text Extraction

LEFT is known for Text Extraction.

TEXTJOIN

Advanced Text Combining

TEXTJOIN is known for Advanced Text Combining.

EXACT

Case-Sensitive Comparison

EXACT is known for Case-Sensitive Comparison.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

LEFT

Excel 95

LEFT was created in Excel 95. Functions that came with Excel 95 release Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Excel 2016

TEXTJOIN was created in Excel 2016. Functions that came with Excel 2016 version Click to see all.

EXACT

Excel 2.0

EXACT was created in Excel 2.0. Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release Click to see all.
Created By 👤

Organization or team responsible for developing the function

For all*

Microsoft Excel Team

Functions officially created by the Microsoft Excel development team

Facts Comparison

Interesting Fact 💡

Unique or lesser-known information about the Excel function

LEFT

Often paired with RIGHT

TEXTJOIN

First delimiter-based text joiner

EXACT

Used in password verification systems
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

LEFT

The function that discriminates against right-handed people

TEXTJOIN

The party planner of text functions

EXACT

The function with OCD for spelling

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

Indicates the difficulty level and complexity of using the Excel function effectively

LEFT

Simple

LEFT has a Simple complexity level. Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Intermediate

TEXTJOIN has a Intermediate complexity level. Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks Click to see all.

EXACT

Simple

EXACT has a Simple complexity level. Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks Click to see all.

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

For all*

Text

Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation
Version Compatibility 💻

Indicates which Excel versions and platforms the function is compatible with < including Office 365< Excel 2019< 2016< etc.

For all*

Excel 2016

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version

LEFT

Excel 2019

LEFT is compatible with Excel 2019 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version Click to see all.

Excel 2013

LEFT is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version Click to see all.

Microsoft 365

LEFT is compatible with Microsoft 365 Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform Click to see all.

Excel Online

LEFT is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Microsoft 365

TEXTJOIN is compatible with Microsoft 365 Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform Click to see all.

EXACT

Excel 2019

EXACT is compatible with Excel 2019 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version Click to see all.

Excel 2013

EXACT is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version Click to see all.
Operating System 💾

Specifies the operating systems where the function can be used < including Windows< macOS< and web platforms

For all*

Windows

Excel functions optimized for Windows operating system
MacOS

Excel functions optimized for MacOS users

LEFT

Web Excel

LEFT runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Excel Online

TEXTJOIN runs on Excel Online Excel functions available in the online version of Excel Click to see all.

EXACT

Web Excel

EXACT runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions Click to see all.
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

LEFT

2

LEFT needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

3

TEXTJOIN needs 3 required arguments Click to see all.

EXACT

2

EXACT needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

For all*

Text

Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing

LEFT

Number

LEFT accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Array

TEXTJOIN accepts Array as input types Excel functions that specifically work with array inputs for calculations Click to see all.

Boolean

TEXTJOIN accepts Boolean as input types Excel functions that work with true/false logical inputs for decision-making Click to see all.

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

LEFT

Simple Text Extraction

Consistent

Easy Text Handling

Quick

Quick Excel functions deliver rapid results with minimal processing time Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Flexible Delimiter

Ignore Empty Cells

Array Support

EXACT

Precise Text Comparison

Case Sensitive
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

LEFT

Limited To Left Side

Functions that only work with characters from the left side of text entries Click to see all.

Fixed Length Only

Functions restricted to processing fixed-length inputs, reducing versatility Click to see all.

Only Left Side

Fixed Length

Functions only process data of specific lengths, limiting adaptability Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

Version Compatibility

Complex For Basic Users

EXACT

Only Returns TRUE/FALSE

Functions that provide only yes/no answers without additional information Click to see all.

No Partial Matching

Ratings Comparison

Ease of Use Score 📊

User-rated score for function's ease of use

LEFT

9.5

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

8.5

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

EXACT

9.5

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.
Versatility Score 📈

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios

LEFT

6.5

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

8

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

EXACT

6

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.
Performance Score ⚙

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency

LEFT

9

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

9

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

EXACT

9.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.
Reliability Score 🛠

Rating for function's consistency and error handling

LEFT

9.5

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.

TEXTJOIN

9

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.

EXACT

9.5

Rating for function's consistency and error handling (25%) Functions with higher reliability scores produce more consistent results and handle edge cases better. Click to see all.
Score ⭐

Overall rating combining all scoring attributes

For all*

8.6

Alternatives to LEFT

Known for Extract Rightmost Characters

📈 is more versatile than LEFT

⚙ performs better than LEFT

⭐ is rated higher than LEFT

Known for Text Joining

📈 is more versatile than LEFT

⚙ performs better than LEFT

Known for Capitalize First Letters

Known for Remove Extra Spaces

⚙ performs better than LEFT

⭐ is rated higher than LEFT

Known for Replace Specific Text

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEFT

📈 is more versatile than LEFT

⭐ is rated higher than LEFT

Known for Extracting Text Segments

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEFT

Known for Converting Text To Uppercase

⚙ performs better than LEFT

Known for Case-Insensitive Search

Known for Character Count Calculation

⚙ performs better than LEFT

Known for Text Search And Position Finding

📈 is more versatile than LEFT