Feb 252 min read

UNIQUE Function in Excel: A Comprehensive Explanation with Examples

Introduction

The UNIQUE function is a powerful function in Excel that allows you to extract a unique list of values from a dataset. It is particularly useful when you need to remove duplicates from data or create a distinct list.

Syntax

The syntax of the UNIQUE function is as follows:

=UNIQUE(array)

Where:

* array: is the range of cells or array from which you want to extract the unique values.

Argument Explanation

* array: This argument can be a range of cells, an array, or a named reference.

* ignore_empty: (Optional) If set to TRUE, empty cells in the array will be ignored. If set to FALSE (default), empty cells will be included in the result.

Example

Suppose you have the following table:

Name	Age
John	25
Mary	30
Fatima	22
John	25
Ali	28

To extract a unique list of the names of the people from this table, you can use the UNIQUE function as follows:

=UNIQUE(A2:A6)

This formula will return the following result:

{John, Mary, Fatima, Ali}

Best Practices

* Use the UNIQUE function to remove duplicates from data.

* Use the UNIQUE function to create a distinct list of values.

* Use the UNIQUE function with other functions, such as COUNTIF or SUMIF, to calculate unique values.

Uses with Other Functions

* COUNTIF: To count the number of times a unique value appears in a range.

* SUMIF: To calculate the sum of values associated with a unique value.

* VLOOKUP: To retrieve a value from a table based on a unique value.

Usage Scenarios

* Removing duplicates from contact lists or email addresses.

* Creating a distinct list of products or services.

* Analyzing data that contains duplicate values.

Conclusion

The UNIQUE function is a powerful tool that can help you extract unique values from data with ease. By understanding the syntax and arguments of the function, you can use it effectively to manage and analyze your data.

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