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Excel function · Finding text
FIND
Finds where one text starts inside another. Case-sensitive.
What it does
FIND returns the position at which a text first appears inside another. It tells "A" and "a" apart and doesn't accept wildcards. When the text isn't there, it returns #VALUE!.
Syntax
=FIND(find_text; within_text; [start_num])Arguments in square brackets are optional, and … means you can add more of the same. In this Excel language, arguments are separated by ;
Arguments
- find_text
- The text to look for, in quotes or from a cell.
- within_text
- The text to search in.
- start_num
- The position to start searching from. Leave it out to start at 1.
Example
Where does the @ sit in this email address?
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Position of @ | |
| 2 | ana@example.com | 4 |
The formula in B2:
=FIND("@";A2)Result: 4
ana is three characters, so the @ is character 4. Everything before it is the user name, which is a common use of FIND with LEFT.
Common mistakes
- Looking for "pro" in "PRO".
FINDis case-sensitive, so it fails; useSEARCHwhen case doesn't matter. - Not handling a missing match. Wrap it in
IFERRORwhen the text might not be there.
In other Excel languages
Excel translates function names, and in some languages the argument separator too. Type the name your Excel shows.
| Excel language | Function name | Separator |
|---|---|---|
| English | FIND | , |
| Deutsch | FINDEN | ; |
| Français | TROUVE | ; |
| Español (España) | ENCONTRAR | ; |
| Español (México) | ENCONTRAR | , |
| 日本語 | FIND | , |
| 한국어 | FIND | , |
| 繁體中文 | FIND | , |
| ไทย | FIND | , |
| ខ្មែរ | FIND | , |
| Tiếng Việt | FIND | ; |