EXACT function
EXACT compares two text values and returns TRUE only if they match exactly, including upper and lower case. The = sign and lookups ignore case, so EXACT is what you use when case matters, such as for case-sensitive product codes or IDs.
- Available in
- Every current version
- Category
- Text functions
- Returns
- TRUE if the two match character for character, otherwise FALSE.
- Google Sheets
- Works the same in Google Sheets.
Syntax
=EXACT(text1, text2)
| Argument | Required? | What it is |
|---|---|---|
text1 | Required | The first text or cell. |
text2 | Required | The text or cell to compare it with. |
Examples
Each result below is calculated from the sample sheet by our formula engine, the same one that grades the practice.
| Cell | Formula | Result | What it shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| C2 | =EXACT(A2,B2) | TRUE | Same characters, same case: TRUE |
| C3 | =EXACT(A3,B3) | FALSE | Same letters, different case: FALSE |
| C4 | =EXACT(A4,B4) | FALSE | A trailing space makes them different |
Try it live
This is the sample sheet. Change any number or text, or edit a formula, and the results update.
Show the sample data as a table
| Code on file | Code entered | Result |
| ABc-12 | ABc-12 | TRUE |
| ABc-12 | abc-12 | FALSE |
| XR-7 | XR-7 | FALSE |
Practice EXACT
Graded instantly, then re-checked on changed data.
Case-sensitive code check
C2, return TRUE only if the code entered in B2 matches the code on file in A2 exactly, including case. Fill down to C6.Common mistakes
| What you see | Why, and how to fix it |
|---|---|
| Spaces cause FALSE | EXACT counts every space. Compare TRIM(A2) with TRIM(B2) when spacing shouldn't matter. |
| Numbers compare as text | EXACT converts both values to text, so EXACT(100,"100") is TRUE even though =100="100" is FALSE. |
Tips
- For a case-sensitive lookup, combine it with XLOOKUP: =XLOOKUP(TRUE,EXACT(A2:A20,D2),B2:B20).
Questions
How do I compare two cells with a case-sensitive match?
=EXACT(A2,B2) returns TRUE only when the text and the case both match. =A2=B2 ignores case.
Is Excel case-sensitive?
Mostly no: the = sign, VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP, MATCH and COUNTIF all ignore case. EXACT, FIND and SUBSTITUTE are case-sensitive.
Last reviewed October 2026. Every example result on this page is calculated live by the Spreadsheet Practice formula engine.