Compact mode

HYPERLINK vs SUBSTITUTE vs LEFT

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

HYPERLINK

Web

HYPERLINK belongs to the Web category. Excel functions for working with web data and connections Click to see all.

SUBSTITUTE

Text

SUBSTITUTE belongs to the Text category. Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data

LEFT

Text

LEFT belongs to the Text category. Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data
Operation Type 🔧

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

HYPERLINK

Information

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

SUBSTITUTE

Manipulation

SUBSTITUTE performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways

LEFT

Manipulation

LEFT performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

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

For all*

Administrative Staff

Excel functions useful for administrative tasks and data management

HYPERLINK

Project Managers

HYPERLINK is designed for Project Managers. Excel functions helpful for project planning and tracking Click to see all.

SUBSTITUTE

Data Analysts

SUBSTITUTE is designed for Data Analysts. Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation Click to see all.

LEFT

Data Analysts

LEFT is designed for Data Analysts. Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

HYPERLINK

Information

HYPERLINK is used for Information. Excel functions that retrieve and display various types of information from data Click to see all.

SUBSTITUTE

Text Manipulation

SUBSTITUTE is used for Text Manipulation. Excel functions that modify and format text content Click to see all.

LEFT

Text Manipulation

LEFT is used for Text Manipulation. Excel functions that modify and format text content Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

HYPERLINK

Creating Clickable Links

HYPERLINK is known for Creating Clickable Links.

SUBSTITUTE

Replace Specific Text

SUBSTITUTE is known for Replace Specific Text.

LEFT

Text Extraction

LEFT is known for Text Extraction.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

HYPERLINK

Excel 97

HYPERLINK was created in Excel 97. Functions first available in Excel 97 version Click to see all.

SUBSTITUTE

Excel 97

SUBSTITUTE was created in Excel 97. Functions first available in Excel 97 version Click to see all.

LEFT

Excel 95

LEFT was created in Excel 95. Functions that came with Excel 95 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

HYPERLINK

Transforms cells into web links

SUBSTITUTE

Originally designed for mail merge operations

LEFT

Often paired with RIGHT
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

HYPERLINK

The function that turns Excel into a wannabe web browser

SUBSTITUTE

Find and replace's overachieving cousin

LEFT

The function that discriminates against right-handed people

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

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

HYPERLINK

Simple

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

SUBSTITUTE

Intermediate

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

LEFT

Simple

LEFT 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 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

Excel Online

LEFT is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform
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

HYPERLINK

2

HYPERLINK needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.

SUBSTITUTE

3

SUBSTITUTE needs 3 required arguments Click to see all.

LEFT

2

LEFT 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

Text

Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing

SUBSTITUTE

Number

SUBSTITUTE accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs

LEFT

Number

LEFT accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

HYPERLINK

Easy Link Creation

Functions that simplify the process of creating hyperlinks in spreadsheets

Customizable Display Text

Functions that offer flexible output text formatting options

SUBSTITUTE

Multiple Replacements

Case Sensitive

Precise

LEFT

Simple Text Extraction

Consistent

Easy Text Handling

Quick

Quick Excel functions deliver rapid results with minimal processing time
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

HYPERLINK

Limited Formatting Options

Security Warnings

SUBSTITUTE

Requires Exact Match

Complex Syntax

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.