Excel: Compare values - these options are available

With the help of formulas and functions, you can automate many time-consuming processes in Microsoft Excel, such as complex calculations or comparisons of large data sets. Learn here how you can compare different values in Excel and what you need to keep in mind.

Compare values in Excel - here's how to do it

It's worthwhile to use formulas and functions in Excel, especially for larger data sets. You can use the Identical function in Excel to compare the contents of cells with each other. However, the basic function is limited to two cells, but it can be extended with the OR function, so that more values can be compared at the same time.

• The syntax for the Identical function looks like this: "=IDENTICAL(cell1;cell2)".
• If you want to compare, for example, the cells A3 and B5 with each other, you must write "=IDENTICAL(A3;B5)" in a free cell.
• If the contents match, you get as a result "TRUE". If the contents are not identical, "FALSE" appears.
• Note that all characters in the cells affect the result. So if there is one more space in the one cell, you will get a negative comparison result. Case sensitivity also affects the result.

Compare more than two values

If you want to use the Identical function to compare more than just the contents of two cells, you can extend the function with the Or function.

• Combine the two functions:"=OR(IDENTICAL(cell1;cell2:cell6)".
• Example: If you want to compare the contents of cell A2 with those of cells B5 to B9, the function looks like this:"=OR(IDENTICAL(A2;B5:B9)". The result will be displayed to you as with the normal Identical function also with "True" or "False".