The FIND() function in Excel is a text function used to locate the position of a specific character or text string within another text string.
- It returns the starting position (number) of the text you are searching for.
- It is case-sensitive.
- It does not support wildcards.
- If the text is not found, it returns a #VALUE! error.
Syntax
FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
Parameters Explained:
| Argument | Description |
|---|---|
| find_text | The text you want to find |
| within_text | The text in which you want to search |
| start_num (optional) | The position from where Excel should start searching |
Basic Examples
Example 1: Finding a Character
Formula:
=FIND(“e”, “Welcome”)
Result: 2
Explanation:
The letter “e” first appears in position 2 of the word Welcome.
Example 2: Case Sensitivity
=FIND(“E”, “Welcome”)
Result:
#VALUE!
Explanation:
FIND is case-sensitive, so “E” is not equal ( ≠ ) to “e”.
Note:
You can use IFERROR function with FIND function to avoid error such as #VALUE! in case of case-sensitive.
For example:
=IFERROR(FIND(“E”, “Welcome”), “Not Found”)
Example 3: Using Start Position
=FIND(“o”, “Microsoft Excel”, 6)
Result:
10
Explanation:
Excel starts searching from the 6th character and finds “o” at position 10.
