In Google Sheets, the LENB function is essential for measuring the length of a string in bytes rather than characters. This can be particularly useful when working with multi-byte character sets, such as those found in Asian languages. By utilizing LENB, users can ensure that their data fits within specific byte limits, thus enhancing data integrity and application performance.

Syntax

LENB(string)  

• string: The text string for which you want to determine the byte length.

Example #1

LENB("Hello")  

This function calculates the byte length of the string “Hello”, which would return 5 since each character in this case occupies one byte.

Example #2

LENB("こんにちは")  

Here, the function measures the byte length of the string “こんにちは” (Konnichiwa), which consists of 15 bytes as each Japanese character typically occupies three bytes.

Example #3

LENB("Hello こんにちは")  

This function assesses the combined string “Hello こんにちは”. It calculates a total of 20 bytes: 5 bytes from “Hello” and 15 bytes from the Japanese characters.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs if the input is not a valid text string, meaning that the function requires a string to work correctly.
• N/A: This error appears when a reference is invalid, often due to the input string pointing to a cell that is empty or does not contain text.

Conclusion

The LENB function in Google Sheets provides valuable insights into the byte length of strings, allowing users to effectively manage their data, especially when dealing with text in different languages. Understanding its application and nuances can significantly improve data handling and integrity in various spreadsheets.