30+ useful Google Sheets functions
You can use functions in Sheets to simplify processes that can take a lot of time and effort. If you're just starting to use Google Sheets or are ready to switch to using the Microsoft program, these are essential functions you should keep in mind.
Useful Google Sheets functions
| Name | Syntax | Describe |
|---|---|---|
| Array | ||
| GROWTH | GROWTH(known_data_y, [known_data_x], [new_data_x], [b]) | Use existing partial data to predict exponential growth trends by providing predicted values. |
| TRANSPOSE | TRANSPOSE(array_or_range) | Reorder a cell selection by swapping columns and rows for rows and columns and vice versa. |
| Day | ||
| DATE | DATE(year, month, day) | Changes the selected value and returns it in date format. |
| NOW | NOW() | Provides the current date and time. |
| TODAY | TODAY() | Automatically updates a cell and returns the current date. |
| Filter | ||
| FILTER | FILTER(range, condition1, [condition2]) | Shows a filtered version of the range that matches the conditions. |
| SORT | SORT(range, sort_column, is_ascending, [sort_column2], [is_ascending2])* | Sorts selected cell rows in a specific order according to the values in one or more columns. |
| UNIQUE | UNIQUE(range) | Show unique rows in range without duplicates. |
| Logic | ||
| IF | IF(logical_expression, value_if_true, value_if_false) | Provides true or false if the selected variable exists in the selected cells. |
| IFERROR | IFERROR(value, [value_if_error]) | Displays the first value if there is no error, the second value if there is an error, and is blank if there is no argument. |
| Search | ||
| FORMULATEXT | FORMULATEXT(cell) | Displays formulas as text strings. |
| VLOOKUP | VLOOKUP(search_key, range, index, [is_sorted]) | Searches for a value in a column and returns that value in the corresponding row. |
| XLOOKUP | XLOOKUP(search_key, lookup_range, result_range, missing_value, [match_mode], [search_mode]) | Searches for a value within a range (vertical and horizontal) and returns that value or the closest match |
| Math | ||
| BASE | BASE(value, base, [min_length]) | Converts a number to another base. |
| COUNTBLANK | COUNTBLANK(range) | Calculate the number of empty cells in the range. |
| COUNTIF | COUNTIF(range, criterion) | Count the number of cells that satisfy the condition. |
| RAND | RAND() | Generate a random number between 0 and 1. |
| ROUNDUP | ROUNDUP(value, [places]) | Rounds a number up to the specified number of places. |
| SUM | SUM(value1, [value2, .]) | Sum the values in a selected group of cells or numbers. |
| SUMIF | SUMIF(range, criterion, [sum_range]) | Sum values in a group of cells if they meet a specific criteria or fit a specific category. |
| Statistical | ||
| AVERAGE | AVERAGE(value1, [value2, .]) | Finds the average of the numerical values in the selected cells while ignoring text. |
| MAX | MAX(value1, [value2, .]) | Finds the maximum value in the set. |
| MIN | MIN(value1, [value2, .]) | Finds the minimum value in the set. |
| MODE | MODE(value1, [value2, .]) | Finds the most common values in the set. |
| Text | ||
| CONCATENATE | CONCATENATE(string1, [string2, .]) | Combines the values of two separate cells into one. |
| SEARCH | SEARCH(search_for, text_to_search, [starting_at]) | Searches for a value and returns its position in the text. |
| SPLIT | SPLIT(text, delimiter, [split_by_each], [remove_empty_text]) | Splits text of a certain value and divides it into multiple cells. |
| SUBSTITUTE | SUBSTITUTE(text_to_search, search_for, replace_with, [occurence_number]) | Changes existing text and provides new text in a string. |
| TEXT | TEXT(number, format) | Change some numbers into different text formats. |
| Web | ||
| IMPORTFEED | IMPORTFEED(URL, [query], [headers], [num_items]) | Import and provide an RSS or ATOM feed as a value. |
| IMPORTXML | IMPORTXML(URL, xpath_query) | Import different types of data from a selected URL, including HTML, XML, CSV, TSV, RSS, and ATOM XML feeds. |