# LEFT, RIGHT, LPAD, RPAD
__*LEFT function*__
__*RIGHT function*__
__*LPAD function*__
__*RPAD function*__
+ **`LEFT(str, numchar), RIGHT(str, numchar)`**: Returns the leftmost or rightmost **`numchar`** character in a string
+ **`LPAD(str, len, padstr), RPAD(str, len, padstr)`**: Returns a string padded with **`padstr`** on the left or right side, no more than **`len`** characters in length
+ For example:
  + **`SELECT LEFT('TSO',1), RIGHT('TSO',2), LPAD('TSO',4,'#'), RPAD('TSO',4,'#');`**  
```
tidb> SELECT LEFT('TSO',1), RIGHT('TSO',2), LPAD('TSO',4,'#'), RPAD('TSO',4,'#');
+---------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| LEFT('TSO',1) | RIGHT('TSO',2) | LPAD('TSO',4,'#') | RPAD('TSO',4,'#') |
+---------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
| T             | SO             | #TSO              | TSO#              |
+---------------+----------------+-------------------+-------------------+
```

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- LEFT () return the leftmost character of the specified length
- RIGHT () return the rightmost character of the specified number
- LPAD () return a string parameter and adds the specified string to the left
- RPAD () adds a string a specified number of times