Did you know…what are the essential (must-know) functions?

Did you see this picture before? If not, I guess it is time to take some Excel basics :=)

Excel formula tab

Here are my top functions that every Excel user should know (no excuses!!!):

1. SUM

Adds all numbers in a range.​

Syntax:

=SUM(number1, [number2], ...)

Example:

=SUM(A1:A5)

Adds the values in cells A1 through A5.​

2. AVERAGE

Calculates the average (arithmetic mean) of numbers in a range.​

Syntax:

=AVERAGE(number1, [number2], ...)

Example:

=AVERAGE(B1:B5)

Returns the average of values in cells B1 through B5.​

3. COUNT

Counts the number of numeric values in a range.

Syntax:

=COUNT(value1, [value2], ...)

Example:

=COUNT(C1:C10)

Counts the numeric entries in cells C1 through C10.​

4. COUNTA

Counts the number of non-empty cells in a range.​

Syntax:

=COUNTA(value1, [value2], ...)

Example:

=COUNTA(D1:D10)

Counts all non-empty cells in the range D1 through D10.

5. IF

Performs a logical test and returns one value for TRUE and another for FALSE.​

Syntax:

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

Example:

=IF(E1>100, "Above 100", "100 or below")

Checks if the value in E1 is greater than 100; if true, returns "Above 100", otherwise returns "100 or below".​

6. VLOOKUP

Searches for a value in the first column of a range and returns a value in the same row from another column.​

Syntax:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

Example:

=VLOOKUP(101, A2:C10, 2, FALSE)

Looks for the value 101 in the first column of the range A2:C10 and returns the corresponding value from the second column.​

7. HLOOKUP

Similar to VLOOKUP, but searches for a value in the first row and returns a value from a specified row.​

Syntax:

=HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

Example:

=HLOOKUP(50, A1:G3, 2, TRUE)

Searches for 50 in the first row of A1:G3 and returns the corresponding value from the second row.​

8. MATCH

Returns the relative position of a value in a range.​

Syntax:

=MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type])

Example:

=MATCH(200, A1:A10, 0)

Finds the position of the value 200 in the range A1:A10.​

9. INDEX

Returns the value of a cell at a specified row and column in a range.​

Syntax:

=INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num])

Example:

=INDEX(A2:C5, 2, 3)

Returns the value in the second row and third column of the range A2:C5.​

10. CONCATENATE (or CONCAT in newer versions)

Joins two or more text strings into one.​

Syntax:

=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], ...)

Note: In Excel 2016 and later, CONCAT replaces CONCATENATE.

Example:

=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)
=CONCATENATE("Hello", " ", "World!")

Joins the text in A1 and B1 with a space in between.​ Joins the texts "Hello", a space, and "World!" to produce "Hello World!".

11. LEFT

Returns a specified number of characters from the start (left side) of a text string.​

Syntax:

=LEFT(text, num_chars)

Example:

=LEFT(A1, 4)
=LEFT("DataAnalysis", 4)

Returns the first four characters from the text in A1. Returns the first four characters from the text "DataAnalysis", resulting in "Data".

12. RIGHT

Returns a specified number of characters from the end (right side) of a text string.​

Syntax:

=RIGHT(text, num_chars)

Example:

=RIGHT(A1, 3)
=RIGHT("2025Report", 6)

Returns the last three characters from the text in A1. Returns the last six characters from the text "2025Report", resulting in "Report".

13. MID

Returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at a specified position.​

Syntax:

=MID(text, start_num, num_chars)

Example:

=MID(A1, 3, 5)
=MID("Forecast2025", 9, 4)

Returns five characters from the text in A1, beginning at the third character. Extracts four characters from the text "Forecast2025", starting at the ninth character, resulting in "2025".

14. LEN

The LEN function returns the number of characters in a text string, including spaces and punctuation

Syntax:

=LEN(text)

Example:

=LEN(A1)
=LEN("Excel Functions")

If cell A1 contains the text "Excel 2025", this formula returns 10 because there are 10 characters in "Excel 2025", including the space. Returns the number of characters in the text "Excel Functions", which is 15.

For more infos about Excel functions, please refer to the official Microsoft documentations: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/excel-functions-alphabetical-b3944572-255d-4efb-bb96-c6d90033e188

That is it for now, Happy Excel-ing!!!