=SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num])One free generation or explanation per browser, shared across Excel and Google Sheets. Account usage limits apply afterward.
Need more than a single SEARCH formula? Try our free AI for Excel — it reads your entire spreadsheet, answers questions in plain English, and builds charts and analysis in the same chat.
find_text:
The text that you want to find within the within_text. This can be a string of characters or a cell reference containing the text to search for.
within_text:
The text or cell reference in which you want to search for the find_text. This can be a string, a cell reference, or a range of cells.
start_num:
The position in the within_text from which to start the search. This is an optional parameter; if omitted, the search begins at the first character of within_text.
The SEARCH function in Excel is a useful tool that allows you to find the position of a specific substring within a text string. It returns the number of the character at which the substring is found, making it easier to locate specific information within larger text entries.
In simpler terms, the SEARCH function helps you identify where a certain word or phrase appears in a text, which can be particularly helpful for data analysis and text manipulation.
Imagine you are working with a list of customer feedback comments in an Excel spreadsheet, and you have the following data:
| Customer ID | Feedback Comment |
|---|---|
| 1 | Great service and friendly staff! |
| 2 | The product quality could be better. |
| 3 | Excellent experience overall! |
| 4 | Staff was rude and unhelpful. |
| 5 | Loved the quick response time! |
You want to find out which comments mention the word "service."
To locate the position of the word "service" in the feedback comments, you would use the SEARCH formula as follows:
=SEARCH("service", B2)When you apply the formula to the first feedback comment, it returns the position of the word "service." The output would be:
| Position of "service" in Comment |
|---|
| 7 |
Here, the word "service" starts at the 7th character of the comment "Great service and friendly staff!"
The SEARCH function is particularly useful when you need to analyze text data and identify specific keywords or phrases without case sensitivity. It allows you to efficiently locate information within larger datasets, facilitating better data management and analysis.
Understanding how to use the SEARCH function can significantly enhance your text analysis capabilities in Excel, enabling you to extract valuable insights from your textual data.
Happy searching!
You have a list of product descriptions in Column A and you want to identify which products contain the word "organic." By using the SEARCH function, you can determine the position of the word "organic" within each description. This allows you to filter or highlight products that meet specific criteria, aiding in inventory management and marketing strategies without needing to manually review each description.
Beyond the SEARCH function: Better Analyst is a full Excel AI that goes well past individual formulas. Upload any spreadsheet and ask questions in plain English — you'll get formulas, data analysis, and charts back in seconds. It's a free AI Excel assistant that works with any .xlsx, .xls, or .csv file — no plugins, no Microsoft 365 required.
Don't have a spreadsheet yet? Use our free AI spreadsheet generator to turn a text prompt into a downloadable Excel file — a full AI Excel sheet maker that builds headers, columns, and formulas from your description.
Create a free account for formula help, explanations, and spreadsheet analysis. Usage limits depend on your plan.
Browse our complete library of Excel formula guides
Compare your options
Open a neutral research prompt in the AI tool you already use. Compare capabilities, limitations, and fit before you choose.
AI answers can be incomplete. Check source links, current pricing, and product documentation before deciding.