🔤 Text Function · intermediate
SEARCH Function in Google Sheets
Returns position of one string in another, case-insensitively. Supports * and ? wildcards.
Syntax
SEARCH(search_for, text_to_search, [starting_at])Returns: 1-based position, or #VALUE! if not found.
Excel equivalent: SEARCH (identical)
Parameters
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| search_for | Required | Substring. * = any chars, ? = single char. |
| text_to_search | Required | String to search. |
| starting_at | Optional | Start position. Default 1. |
Examples
Case-insensitive
=SEARCH("apple", A2)Finds apple/Apple/APPLE.
Wildcard
=SEARCH("a*e", A2)Matches apple, axle, are.
Substring test
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("urgent", A2))TRUE if 'urgent' appears.
When to use an alternative
- FIND — Case-sensitive.
- REGEXMATCH — Full regex.
Common errors and how to fix them
Wildcard surprise
Cause: * and ? are wildcards.
Fix: Escape with ~: SEARCH("~*", A2).
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Frequently Asked Questions
Regex?
No — only * and ?. Use REGEXMATCH for regex.
Why #VALUE!?
Substring not in source. Wrap with IFERROR.