Excel CONCAT Function
The CONCAT function in Microsoft Excel combines multiple text strings into one. It is useful for merging data, such as combining first and last names or creating custom labels.
Key Topics
- Overview of CONCAT Function
- CONCAT Function Syntax
- Implementation Examples
- Sample Dataset
- Key Takeaways
Overview of CONCAT Function
The CONCAT function, available in Excel 2016 and later, replaces the older CONCATENATE function. It combines text from multiple cells or ranges into a single string, ignoring empty cells, and is ideal for creating unified text outputs.
CONCAT Function Syntax
The syntax for the CONCAT function is as follows:
Syntax: =CONCAT(text1, [text2], ...)
Parameters:
- text1: The first text string or range to combine (required).
- text2, ...: Additional text strings or ranges (optional).
Implementation Examples
Below are examples of how to use the CONCAT function in different scenarios.
Example 1: =CONCAT(A2, B2) — Combines text from A2 and B2.
Example 2: =CONCAT(A2, " ", B2) — Combines A2 and B2 with a space between them.
Example 3: =CONCAT(A2:A6) — Combines all text in the range A2:A6 into one string.
Sample Dataset (Excel-style View)
Below is a demo dataset styled like Excel, showing how the CONCAT function can be used to create full names from first and last names.
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | First Name | Last Name | Full Name |
| 2 | John | Doe | =CONCAT(A2, " ", B2) |
| 3 | Jane | Smith | =CONCAT(A3, " ", B3) |
| 4 | Alice | Johnson | =CONCAT(A4, " ", B4) |
| 5 | Bob | Williams | =CONCAT(A5, " ", B5) |
| 6 | Emma | Brown | =CONCAT(A6, " ", B6) |
Note: In the dataset, column C uses =CONCAT(A2, " ", B2) to combine the first name in A2 and last name in B2 with a space between them, creating a full name. The formula is applied to each row to demonstrate consistent output.
Key Takeaways
- The CONCAT function combines multiple text strings or ranges into one.
- It is available in Excel 2016 and later, replacing CONCATENATE.
- It ignores empty cells when combining ranges, e.g.,
=CONCAT(A2:A6). - Common uses include merging names, addresses, or custom labels.
- The sample dataset demonstrates CONCAT applied to create full names.