Excel EXACT Function
last modified April 4, 2025
The EXACT function is a text comparison function in Excel that
checks if two text strings are identical, including case sensitivity. This
tutorial provides a comprehensive guide to using the EXACT
function with detailed examples. You'll learn basic syntax, practical
applications, and advanced techniques to master this essential Excel function.
EXACT Function Basics
The EXACT function compares two text strings and returns TRUE if
they are exactly the same, and FALSE if they are not. It is case-sensitive and
considers spaces and formatting differences.
| Component | Description |
|---|---|
| Function Name | EXACT |
| Syntax | =EXACT(text1, text2) |
| Arguments | Two text strings to compare |
| Return Value | TRUE if identical, FALSE if different |
This table breaks down the essential components of the EXACT
function. It shows the function name, basic syntax format, argument
requirements, and return value characteristics.
Basic EXACT Example
This example demonstrates the simplest use of the EXACT function with direct text comparisons.
=EXACT("Excel", "Excel")
This formula compares two identical text strings "Excel" and returns TRUE. This shows how EXACT works with hard-coded values without cell references.
EXACT with Case Sensitivity
EXACT is case-sensitive, distinguishing between uppercase and lowercase letters. This example demonstrates this behavior.
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| Excel | excel | =EXACT(A1,B1) |
The table shows how EXACT handles case differences. Despite
containing the same letters, "Excel" and "excel" are considered different
because of their case.
=EXACT(A1,B1)
This formula compares "Excel" (A1) with "excel" (B1) and returns FALSE because of the case difference. This demonstrates EXACT's case-sensitive nature.
EXACT with Numbers
EXACT can compare numbers formatted as text, but treats numbers and text representations differently. This example shows this behavior.
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| 100 | "100" | =EXACT(A1,B1) |
The table demonstrates how EXACT handles numeric values versus
text representations of numbers. Cell A1 contains the number 100, while B1
contains the text "100".
=EXACT(A1,B1)
This formula compares the number 100 (A1) with the text "100" (B1) and returns FALSE. EXACT considers different data types as non-identical, even if they look the same.
EXACT with Leading/Trailing Spaces
EXACT detects differences in whitespace, including leading and trailing spaces. This example illustrates this behavior.
| A | B | C |
|---|---|---|
| Data | Data | =EXACT(A1,B1) |
The table shows how EXACT handles whitespace differences. Cell A1
contains "Data" while B1 contains "Data " with a trailing space.
=EXACT(A1,B1)
This formula compares "Data" (A1) with "Data " (B1) and returns FALSE because of the trailing space in B1. EXACT is sensitive to all character differences.
EXACT in Conditional Formatting
EXACT can be used in conditional formatting rules to highlight cells matching specific criteria. This example demonstrates this application.
| A | B |
|---|---|
| Approved | APPROVED |
| Rejected | rejected |
=EXACT(A1,"Approved")
This formula would be used in a conditional formatting rule to highlight cells in column A that exactly match "Approved" (case-sensitive). Only the first row would be highlighted in this example.
EXACT with Data Validation
EXACT can be used in data validation to ensure case-sensitive input matches. This example shows how to implement this.
=EXACT(B1,"YES")
This formula would be used in data validation to require that cell B1 contains exactly "YES" in uppercase. Any variation (like "yes" or "Yes") would be rejected.
The EXACT function is essential for precise text comparisons in
Excel. Its case-sensitive nature makes it valuable for quality control, data
validation, and conditional formatting. While simple in concept, EXACT provides
critical functionality that distinguishes it from regular equality operators.
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