Skip to main content
← All functions

LENB function

Returns the number of bytes used to represent the characters in a text string

Legacy DBCS byte-oriented len function. Microsoft deprecates LENB; prefer LEN for new workbooks. This local model counts Latin-1 and half-width kana as one byte and other code points as two; an incomplete double-byte character in a slice becomes a space. It is not a UTF-8 storage measure. Native Excel byte behavior depends on language and workbook settings, and full native locale compatibility remains unverified.

Syntax

LENB(text)

Square brackets indicate optional arguments.

Arguments

ArgumentRequiredMeaning
textYesThe text whose length you want to find. Spaces count as characters."Univer"

Try LENB

Count a mixed label in legacy DBCS bytes

=LENB(A2)

The byte count is 1+2+1+2+1=7; the character count from LEN is 5. This example uses a legacy double-byte character set (DBCS): A, B and C use one byte each; 漢 and 字 use two each. Byte positions are A=1, 漢=2–3, B=4, 字=5–6 and C=7. These positions differ from UTF-8 storage sizes. Microsoft deprecates the B-suffixed function; prefer the corresponding character function for new workbooks. Native byte counting depends on language settings.

Inspect the current formula

Read its written arguments or observe actual operation values in a separate local calculation. This action neither applies a draft nor grades an answer.

Read the formula, one argument at a time

Explore the written function calls and their inputs. The calculation result belongs to the complete formula.

LENB · top-level call

=LENB(A2)

1 / 1 · text

The text whose length you want to find. Spaces count as characters.

LENB reference ↗

Follow the cells behind a result

Read explicit local references and helper formulas using a separate calculation. Your draft stays in this field; the worksheet and practice checks do not change.

The worksheet runs locally. Published checks apply to the supplied example only. Native Excel and Google Sheets compatibility remain unverified.

Reference and compatibility

Univer 1.0.4 / Apache-2.0. Calculation checks cover the supplied examples only. The browser worksheet does not implement every Excel feature, external service or connected data type.