# TEXTBEFORE
## Content
This function returns text that occurs before a given character or string.
## Syntax
`=TEXTBEFORE(text,delimiter,[instance_num], [match_mode], [match_end], [if_not_found])`
## Arguments
The function has the following arguments:
| Argument | Description |
| -------- | ----------- |
| *text* | Refers to the text you are searching within. Wildcard characters are not allowed. If the text is an empty string, it returns an empty text. |
| *delimiter* | Refers to the text that marks the point before which you want to extract. |
| *instance\_num* | [Optional] Refers to the instance of the delimiter after which you want to extract the text. By default, instance\_num = 1. A negative number starts searching text from the end. |
| *match\_mode* | [Optional] Determines whether the text search is case-sensitive. The default is case-sensitive. You can enter one of the following:- **0** Case sensitive.
- **1** Case insensitive.
|
| *match\_end* | [Optional] Treats the end of the text as a delimiter. By default, the text is an exact match. You can enter the following:- **0** Don't match the delimiter against the end of the text.
- **1** Match the delimiter against the end of the text.
|
| *if\_not\_found* | [Optional] Refers to the value returned if no match is found. By default, #N/A is returned. |
## Data Types
Returns string data.
## Remarks
The TEXTBEFORE function matches immediately when searching with an empty delimiter value. It returns empty text when searching from the front (if instance\_num is positive) and the entire text when searching from the end (if instance\_num is negative).
## Examples
```JavaScript
=TEXTBEFORE("Little red Riding Hood's red hood","red") // result is "Little"
=TEXTBEFORE("Little red Riding Hood's red hood","red", 2) // result is "Little red Riding Hood's"
=TEXTBEFORE("Little red Riding Hood's red hood","Red") // result is #N/A
=TEXTBEFORE("Little red Riding Hood's red hood","Red", ,1) // result is "Little"
```