The SEARCH function
The position of one text within another. Its most frequent use: knowing whether a cell contains a word.
Syntax
=SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
In a French Excel: =CHERCHE(texte_cherché; texte; [no_départ]).
Arguments
- find_text: what to look for; the * and ? wildcards are allowed.
- within_text: where to look.
- start_num: from which character.
An example
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("urgent",A2))
TRUE if A2 contains "urgent", "URGENT" or "Urgently"; FALSE otherwise, with no error.
Pitfalls
- Text not found: #VALUE!, not 0 or #N/A. Hence the ISNUMBER around it.
- FIND does the same but is case-sensitive and does not allow wildcards.
Going further
- LEFT and MID, to extract.
- Find the right formula: "check whether a cell contains a word".
Frequently asked questions
- SEARCH or FIND?
- SEARCH ignores case and allows wildcards; FIND tells "Paris" from "paris".