Excel SEARCH function
Like FIND, but case-insensitive and with wildcards. In Spanish Excel it is called HALLAR.
Syntax
English Excel
=SEARCH(find_text, within_text, [start_num])
Spanish Excel (Mexico)
=HALLAR(texto_buscado, dentro_del_texto, [núm_inicial])
Spanish Excel (Spain, Latin America)
=HALLAR(texto_buscado; dentro_del_texto; [núm_inicial])
| Argument | What it is |
|---|---|
| find_text | What you look for; accepts * and ?. |
| within_text | Where to look. |
| start_numoptional | Which position to start from. |
Example
SEARCH is like FIND, but it ignores case and accepts * and ? wildcards. Use it when you do not know how the text is written.
=MID(A2,SEARCH("@",A2)+1,100)
Common mistake
To check whether text contains something use ISNUMBER(SEARCH(...)).
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Practice SEARCH
Type the formula in the sheet and check it instantly. Spanish or English function names both work. See all lessons
SEARCH: an email’s domain
SEARCH is like FIND, but it ignores case and accepts * and ? wildcards. Use it when you do not know how the text is written.
In B2, extract the email’s domain: what comes after the @.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Domain | ||
| 2 | ana.ruiz@gmail.com | ||
| 3 | luis@empresa.mx | ||
| 4 | sofi_92@outlook.com | ||
| 5 | dgarcia@unam.mx | ||
| 6 | vale@yahoo.com | ||
| 7 |
Tip: while typing, click a cell or drag across several to insert their reference.
Frequently asked questions
- What is SEARCH called in Spanish?
- In Spanish Excel it is HALLAR. The formula =MID(A2,SEARCH("@",A2)+1,100) is written =EXTRAE(A2;HALLAR("@";A2)+1;100) (or with commas in Mexico).
- Why does SEARCH use semicolons in some Excel versions?
- It depends on regional settings. Where the comma is the decimal mark (Spain, much of South America), Excel separates arguments with semicolons. English Excel and Mexican Spanish Excel use commas.
- What is the most common SEARCH mistake?
- To check whether text contains something use ISNUMBER(SEARCH(...)).