7 Advanced Excel Functions You Should Know

Microsoft Excel is a powerhouse for data management, analysis, and automation. While basic functions like SUM, AVERAGE, and VLOOKUP are widely used, mastering advanced Excel functions can take your skills to the next level. Whether you’re a data analyst, accountant, or business professional, these seven advanced Excel functions will help you work smarter and faster.

XLOOKUP – A Better Alternative to VLOOKUP

XLOOKUP is a powerful function that replaces VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, solving their biggest limitations. It allows you to search for values in a range and return corresponding results without worrying about column order or range size.

Syntax:

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

Why Use It?

✅ Searches in both columns and rows
✅ No need to specify column numbers
✅ Returns exact matches by default
✅ Works with leftward lookups (unlike VLOOKUP)

Example:

Find the price of a product in a table where column A has product names and column B has prices:

=XLOOKUP("Laptop", A2:A10, B2:B10, "Not Found")

FILTER – Extract Data Dynamically

The FILTER function allows you to extract data based on specific conditions, making it useful for dynamic reports and dashboards.

Syntax:

=FILTER(array, include, [if_empty])

Why Use It?

✅ Extracts only relevant data
✅ Dynamically updates when source data changes
✅ Ideal for creating custom reports

Example:

Filter a list of sales data to show only values greater than $5000:

=FILTER(A2:C100, C2:C100>5000, "No Data Found")

SEQUENCE – Generate Number Sequences

Need to create a list of numbers quickly? The SEQUENCE function generates sequential numbers or dates without manual input.

Syntax:

=SEQUENCE(rows, [columns], [start], [step])

Why Use It?

✅ Creates ordered lists automatically
✅ Saves time on manual data entry
✅ Supports multi-column sequences

Example:

Generate a list of numbers from 1 to 10 in a single column:

=SEQUENCE(10, 1, 1, 1)

LET – Improve Formula Efficiency

The LET function lets you assign names to calculations, making your formulas shorter and more efficient.

Syntax:

=LET(name1, value1, name2, value2, calculation)

Why Use It?

✅ Simplifies complex formulas
✅ Improves calculation speed
✅ Enhances formula readability

Example:

Calculate the final price after discount:

=LET(price, 100, discount, 0.2, price - (price * discount))

TEXTJOIN – Combine Text with Separators

The TEXTJOIN function merges multiple text values with a custom separator, unlike CONCATENATE.

Syntax:

=TEXTJOIN(delimiter, ignore_empty, text1, text2, ...)

Why Use It?

✅ Joins multiple text values easily
✅ Ignores empty cells
✅ Saves time compared to manual concatenation

Example:

Combine names from A2 to A5, separated by commas:

=TEXTJOIN(", ", TRUE, A2:A5)

UNIQUE – Remove Duplicates Automatically

The UNIQUE function extracts distinct values from a range, making it useful for cleaning up data.

Syntax:

=UNIQUE(array, [by_col], [exactly_once])

Why Use It?

✅ Eliminates duplicate values
✅ Helps in data validation
✅ Works well with large datasets

Example:

Extract unique product names from column A:

=UNIQUE(A2:A100)

IFS – Simplify Multiple Conditions

The IFS function is an alternative to nested IF statements, making conditional logic easier to read and manage.

Syntax:

=IFS(condition1, result1, condition2, result2, …)

Why Use It?

✅ Eliminates complex nested IF formulas
✅ Makes conditions easier to read and debug
✅ Supports multiple conditions

Example:

Assign letter grades based on scores:

=IFS(A2>=90, "A", A2>=80, "B", A2>=70, "C", A2>=60, "D", TRUE, "F")

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