Excel FIND Function
FIND returns the character position where one text value first appears inside another text value.
Use it to locate delimiters, codes, or markers inside text before extracting, validating, or splitting the content with other formulas.
FIND syntax & arguments
Syntax
=FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
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1
find_text
RequiredThe text to find inside another text value. FIND is case-sensitive.
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2
within_text
RequiredThe text to search within. This can be typed text, a cell reference, or the result of another formula.
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3
start_num
OptionalThe character position where Excel should begin searching. If omitted, FIND starts at the first character.
Example
=FIND("-", A2)
Return the position of the first hyphen in the text from A2.
FIND caveats
FIND is exact by design, so case, missing text, and starting position all affect the result.
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FIND is case-sensitive
"ID"and"id"are different search texts. Use SEARCH when capitalization should not matter. -
Wildcards are not supported
*and?are treated as literal characters instead of wildcard patterns. -
Missing text returns an error
If
find_textdoes not appear inwithin_text, FIND returns a#VALUE!error. -
The starting position is character-based
start_numcounts from 1. A value below 1 or beyond the text length returns a#VALUE!error.
Expect some values to be missing? Wrap FIND in IFERROR when a missing marker should return a controlled fallback.
Intro FIND practice problems
No intro FIND problems are currently available.
Advanced FIND practice problems
Use FIND alongside other Excel functions in realistic, less-prescriptive challenges.
Allow List Validation II
Cleaned Item Code
Code Format Validator
Extract Code Segment
Region Segment Update