Getting part of string from left or right

<?php

function strleft($leftstring, $length) {

  return(substr($leftstring, 0, $length));

}

 

function strright($rightstring, $length) {

  return(substr($rightstring, -$length));

}

 

$myname = "John Miller";

 

echo strleft($myname,6);  //result "John M"

 

echo strright($myname,6); //result "Miller"

?>