Excel OR Function
The OR function in Microsoft Excel evaluates multiple conditions and returns TRUE if at least one condition is true, otherwise FALSE. It is useful for flexible decision-making in data analysis, often paired with IF.
Key Topics
Overview of OR Function
The OR function checks if any of the specified conditions are true. It is ideal for scenarios where meeting one of several criteria is sufficient, such as flagging records or applying conditional formatting.
OR Function Syntax
The syntax for the OR function is as follows:
Syntax: =OR(logical1, [logical2], ...)
Parameters:
- logical1: The first condition to evaluate (required).
- logical2, ...: Additional conditions to evaluate (optional).
Implementation Examples
Below are examples of how to use the OR function in different scenarios.
Example 1: =OR(B2>100, C2>5000) — Returns TRUE if B2 is greater than 100 or C2 is greater than 5000.
Example 2: =IF(OR(B2>=50, C2>=10000), "Eligible", "Not Eligible") — Marks as eligible if either condition is met.
Example 3: =OR(A2="Urgent", B2>0) — Checks if A2 is "Urgent" or B2 is positive.
Sample Dataset (Excel-style View)
Below is a demo dataset styled like Excel, showing how the OR function can be used to flag orders based on criteria.
| A | B | C | D | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Order ID | Quantity | Cost | Priority |
| 2 | ORD001 | 150 | 4000 | =OR(B2>100, C2>5000) |
| 3 | ORD002 | 80 | 6000 | =OR(B3>100, C3>5000) |
| 4 | ORD003 | 200 | 4500 | =OR(B4>100, C4>5000) |
| 5 | ORD004 | 50 | 3000 | =OR(B5>100, C5>5000) |
| 6 | ORD005 | 120 | 7000 | =OR(B6>100, C6>5000) |
Note: In the dataset, column D uses the OR function to flag orders as priority if either Quantity (B) exceeds 100 or Cost (C) exceeds 5000. For example, cell D2 contains =OR(B2>100, C2>5000), returning TRUE or FALSE.
Key Takeaways
- The OR function returns TRUE if at least one condition is true, otherwise FALSE.
- It is often used with IF for flexible conditional logic.
- It supports multiple conditions, e.g.,
=OR(B2>100, C2>5000). - Common uses include flagging records that meet any of several criteria.
- The sample dataset shows OR applied to prioritize orders based on quantity or cost.