EXACT Function in Excel
Master the EXACT function for case-sensitive text comparison with examples and error solutions. Learn precise string matching in Excel and Sheets.
Excel
Google SheetsExcelGoogle Sheets=EXACT(text1, text2)Practical Examples
Basic Text Comparison
Compare two simple text strings for exact match
Case-Sensitive Username Validation
Verify username with case-sensitive matching for login system
Product Code Quality Control
Validate product codes against master database for inventory accuracy
Password Strength Verification
Check if password meets exact requirements including case variation
Data Migration Verification
Verify data integrity after system migration by comparing old and new database values
Email Address Standardization Check
Ensure email addresses follow company standard format (all lowercase)
Batch Code Validation in Manufacturing
Validate manufacturing batch codes against quality control standards
Common Errors and Solutions
Excel doesn't recognize the function name
The function name is misspelled or your Excel version doesn't support it
1. Check spelling - ensure it's EXACT not EXAKT or EXACTLY 2. Verify Excel version (EXACT is available in all versions) 3. Check regional settings if using non-English Excel 4. Try re-typing the formula from scratch
Use Excel's autocomplete feature when typing formulas to avoid typos
Example:
Wrong data type or invalid arguments
One or both arguments contain an error value or array when not expected
1. Check if cells contain error values (#N/A, #REF!, etc.) 2. Ensure you're not passing arrays without array formula syntax 3. Verify that cell references are valid 4. Use IFERROR to handle potential errors
Always validate your data sources before using EXACT
Example:
EXACT returns FALSE when you expect TRUE
Hidden characters, trailing spaces, or subtle case differences that aren't visible
1. Use TRIM to remove extra spaces: =EXACT(TRIM(A1), TRIM(B1)) 2. Check for hidden characters with LEN function 3. Use CLEAN to remove non-printable characters 4. Copy values to Notepad to see hidden formatting
Always clean your data with TRIM and CLEAN before comparison
Example:
EXACT returns FALSE for seemingly identical numbers
Number formatting or decimal precision differences
1. Convert numbers to text explicitly: =EXACT(TEXT(A1, "0"), TEXT(B1, "0")) 2. Round numbers to same decimal places before comparison 3. Check cell formatting for hidden decimals 4. Use VALUE function to standardize numeric text
Standardize number formats before using EXACT
Example:
Best Practices and Advanced Tips
Always wrap your text references in TRIM when comparing user-input data. This eliminates leading/trailing space issues that cause 80% of unexpected FALSE results. Use =EXACT(TRIM(A1), TRIM(B1)) as your default pattern for data validation.
Need case-insensitive comparison? Combine EXACT with UPPER or LOWER: =EXACT(UPPER(A1), UPPER(B1)). This gives you the precision of EXACT while ignoring case differences when needed.
Be aware that EXACT sees all characters including non-breaking spaces (CHAR(160)) which look identical to regular spaces. If comparing data from web sources, always use CLEAN and SUBSTITUTE to normalize.
In Excel 365 or Google Sheets, use EXACT with dynamic arrays for bulk validation. =EXACT(A2:A100, B2:B100) instantly compares entire columns. Wrap in COUNTIF to count matches: =COUNTIF(EXACT(A:A, B:B), TRUE).
For datasets over 10,000 rows, EXACT is 40% faster than nested IF statements with multiple conditions. However, if you only need to check if values are different (not how), use simple <> operator for 60% better performance.
EXACT respects system locale settings for character comparison. In Turkish Excel, lowercase 'i' and uppercase 'I' behave differently than in English versions. Test thoroughly when deploying internationally.
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Example Excel formula:
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