How to use the EXACT function in Excel

This function performs a case-sensitive comparison of two text strings, returning TRUE if they are identical and FALSE otherwise.

Syntax:
EXACT(text1, text2)

Arguments:

• text1 (required): First text string for comparison
• text2 (required): Second text string for comparison

Key Features:

1. Case Sensitivity:
   • =EXACT(« Word », « word ») → FALSE
   • =EXACT(« Word », « Word ») → TRUE
2. Format Ignorance:
   • Only compares raw text content
   • Ignores font styles, colors, or cell formatting
3. Array Compatibility:
   • Can compare a value against a range using array formulas

Practical Applications:

1. Data Validation:

=EXACT(A2, PROPER(A2))  // Checks for proper capitalization

2. Password Verification:

=EXACT(B1, B2)  // Compares two password entries

3. Array Search (Ctrl+Shift+Enter):

{=OR(EXACT(D22,B23:B48))}  // Checks if D22 exists in range

Comparison with Equal Sign (=):

Examples:

Assume that after you have entered a list of data, you want to examine the array to check whether it contains a specific character string. The list is entered in the cell range B23:B48, and cell D22 contains the search string. Enter the following formula in a cell:

=OR(EXACT(C1;A2:A27))

and press Ctrl+Shift+Enter. The formula looks like this (see Figure 8-3):

{=OR(EXACT(C1;A2:A27))}

If you use the function as an array expression, you need the OR() function to return a single value from the list.

Here are a few further examples:

=EXACT(« Microsoft Excel », »Microsoft excel ») returns FALSE.

=EXACT(« steamboat », »steamboats ») returns FALSE.

=EXACT(« gazelle », »gazelle ») returns TRUE.

=EXACT(« John Smith », »Jeff Smith ») returns FALSE.

Limitations:

• Does not support wildcards (*, ?)
• For case-insensitive checks, use =A1=B1
• Array formulas require Ctrl+Shift+Enter in Excel 2019