SEARCH Function in Excel: Syntax, Examples & Practice
Learn the Excel SEARCH function: Finds text position without case sensitivity. Try focused practice and download a free workbook.
Syntax
=SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
Check the function documentation for your Excel version and platform. The browser simulator implements selected behavior and does not reproduce every Excel feature.
Worked example
| Row | A: Customer name | B: Code | C: Raw text |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | amit kumar | MH-10245 | Mumbai - Active |
| 3 | Priya Shah | MH-20418 | Pune - Active |
| 4 | Ravi Patil | MH-33021 | Nashik - Closed |
=SEARCH("Active",C2)Expected result: 10
The original text is shown beside the fields that SEARCH will inspect, clean or transform.
Professional use
Flexible text matching and validation.
Practice SEARCH · Download practice .xlsx
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Questions and answers
How can I practise SEARCH?
Use the focused ten-question SEARCH lab, then download its workbook for ten additional function-specific tasks and an answer key. Core learning works without an account.
Which Excel version supports SEARCH?
Check the function documentation for your Excel version and platform. The browser simulator implements selected behavior and does not reproduce every Excel feature.
Does the browser simulator replace Microsoft Excel?
No. It supports a selected set of formula behavior for practice. Native workbook recalculation, full function compatibility, PivotTables and external data features must be checked in your own Excel installation.
Interactive practice runs in your browser.