Compact mode

LEFT vs LEN vs FORMULATEXT

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

LEFT

Text

LEFT belongs to the Text category. Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data Click to see all.

LEN

Text

LEN belongs to the Text category. Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data Click to see all.

FORMULATEXT

Information

FORMULATEXT belongs to the Information category. Excel functions that provide information about cells and data Click to see all.
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.

LEN

Manipulation

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

FORMULATEXT

Information

FORMULATEXT performs Information operations. Functions that focus on retrieving and displaying data in various formats 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.

LEN

Administrative Staff

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

FORMULATEXT

Students

FORMULATEXT is designed for Students. Excel functions helpful for academic work and learning 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

FORMULATEXT

Data Analysis

FORMULATEXT is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

LEFT

Text Extraction

LEFT is known for Text Extraction.

LEN

Character Count Calculation

LEN is known for Character Count Calculation.

FORMULATEXT

Formula Inspection

FORMULATEXT is known for Formula Inspection.

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.

LEN

Excel 2.0

LEN was created in Excel 2.0. Functions introduced in the Excel 2.0 version release Click to see all.

FORMULATEXT

Excel 2013

FORMULATEXT was created in Excel 2013. Functions added in the Excel 2013 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

LEN

One of the original Excel functions

FORMULATEXT

Popular among Excel trainers
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

LEFT

The function that discriminates against right-handed people

LEN

The function that teaches us size matters

FORMULATEXT

The formula whisperer

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

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

For all*

Simple

Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks

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 2019

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version
Excel 2016

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version
Excel 2013

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version

LEFT

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.
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
Web Excel

Excel functions available in web-based versions
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.

LEN

1

LEN needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

FORMULATEXT

1

FORMULATEXT needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

LEFT

Text

LEFT accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

Number

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

LEN

Text

LEN accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

FORMULATEXT

Range

FORMULATEXT accepts Range as input types Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations 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.

LEN

Simple To Use

Reliable

FORMULATEXT

Great For Learning

Easy Debugging
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.

LEN

Limited To Length Only

Counts Spaces

Functions include space characters in their calculations, potentially affecting accuracy Click to see all.

FORMULATEXT

Only Works With Formulas

Limited Functionality

Functions with restricted capabilities, reducing problem-solving options Click to see all.

Ratings Comparison

Alternatives to LEFT

Known for Convert Text To Lowercase

Known for Remove Extra Spaces

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Converting Text To Uppercase

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Extract Rightmost Characters

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEN

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Removing Non-Printable Characters

Known for Text Joining

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEN

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Case-Sensitive Comparison

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEN

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Text Search And Position Finding

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEN

📈 is more versatile than LEN

Known for Replace Specific Text

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LEN

📈 is more versatile than LEN

⭐ is rated higher than LEN

Known for Capitalize First Letters

📈 is more versatile than LEN