FIND and SEARCH functions in Excel

Function FIND (FIND) and function SEARCH (SEARCH) are very similar to each other. This example demonstrates the difference.

1. Try to use the function FIND (FIND) to find the position of a substring in a string. As you can see in the figure, this function is case sensitive.
2. Now test the function SEARCH (SEARCH) to find the position of the searched text in the string. This function is not case sensitive.

   Note: The text “excel” has position 11 on this line, even if it is used in slightly different case (“Excel”).

3. Function SEARCH (SEARCH) is more versatile. You can use wildcards when you use it.

   

   Note: The question mark (?) matches exactly one character. An asterisk (*) matches a range of characters (zero or more).

4. Another interesting feature of the functions FIND (FIND) and SEARCH (SEARCH) in that they have a 3rd extra argument. You can use this argument to specify the position (starting from the left) at which to start searching.

   Note: The string “o” is found at position 5.

   

   Note: The string “o” was found at position 7 (the search started at position 6).