SEARCH
The SEARCH function is used to find the position of a substring within a text string. This function is commonly used to locate a specific character or word within a larger body of text.
Syntax 🔗
=SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
find_text | The text you want to find within another text. |
within_text | The text in which you want to search. |
start_num (Optional) | The position in the within_text at which to start the search. If omitted, the search will begin at the first character of within_text. |
About SEARCH 🔗
When you need to quickly pinpoint the location of a specific phrase or character within a block of text in Excel, the SEARCH function steps up as your go-to detective. This function streamlines the process of seeking out particular elements within a larger string of text, offering increased efficiency for tasks requiring string manipulation or data extraction workflows. Whether you're identifying keywords in a document, hunting for special characters, or simply verifying the presence of specific substrings, SEARCH equips you with the tools to access this information promptly and accurately. By specifying the target text to search for and the string in which to search, you can efficiently zero in on the desired content within your dataset. The optional start_num parameter allows you to customize the starting point of the search within the text, catering to scenarios where the search should begin beyond the initial character. Overall, the SEARCH function serves as a reliable navigator in the vast sea of text data, facilitating seamless location-based operations within Excel's domain.
Examples 🔗
Suppose you have a text string 'Excel is awesome' and you want to find the position of the word 'awesome' within that string. The SEARCH formula would be: =SEARCH('awesome', 'Excel is awesome') This will return the position of 'awesome' within the text string, which is 9.
Suppose you have a text string 'banana' and you want to find the position of the letter 'n' within that string but start the search from the 3rd character. The SEARCH formula would be: =SEARCH('n', 'banana', 3) This will return the position of 'n' within the text string 'banana' starting from the 3rd character, which is 4.
Notes 🔗
The SEARCH function is not case-sensitive, meaning it will treat uppercase and lowercase letters as equivalent when searching for text within a string. Keep in mind that SEARCH returns the position of the first character of the text being searched for within the larger string. If the target text is not found, SEARCH will return an error value. Ensure the text you are searching for is accurately specified to avoid unexpected results.
Questions 🔗
No, the SEARCH function is not case-sensitive. It treats uppercase and lowercase letters as equivalent when searching for text within a string.
What does the optional start_num parameter in the SEARCH function do?The start_num parameter allows you to specify the position in the within_text where the search should begin. If omitted, the search starts at the first character of within_text.
What happens if the text being searched for is not found in the within_text?If the text being searched for is not found within the within_text, the SEARCH function will return an error value.