Excel MID Function
Summary
The Excel MID function extracts a given number of characters from the middle of a supplied text string. For example, =MID("apple",2,3) returns "ppl".
Purpose
Extract text from inside a string
Return value
The characters extracted.
Syntax
=MID (text, start_num, num_chars)
Arguments
- text - The text to extract from.
- start_num - The location of the first character to extract.
- num_chars - The number of characters to extract.
Usage notes
- MID returns a specific number of characters from a text string, starting at start_num and continuing through start_num + num_chars.
- Use the MID function when you want to extract text from inside a text string, based on location and length.
- You can use FIND or SEARCH to locate start_num when you don't know the location in advance.
MID formula examples
To get the name of the current worksheet (i.e. current tab) you can use a formula based on the CELL function. CELL retrieves the workbook name and sheet, and the MID and FIND functions are used to extract just the...
To remove non-numeric characters from a text string, you can try this experimental formula based on the TEXTJOIN function, a new function available in Office 365 and Excel 2019. In the example shown, the formula in C5...
To extract a substring with an Excel formula, you can use the MID function. In the example shown, the formula in E5 is:
=MID(B5,C5,D5-C5+1)
which, on row 5, returns "Perfect".
How this formula works
Note: in this...
To use data validation to allow a list of specific characters only, you can use a rather complicated array formula based on the COUNT, MATCH, and LEN functions. In the example shown, data validation is applied with this...
To match text longer than 255 characters with the MATCH function, you can use the LEFT, MID, and EXACT functions to parse and compare text, as explained below. In the example shown, the formula in G5 is:
=MATCH(1,...
Top convert a timestamp entered as text into a proper Excel time, you can use the MID function to extract components and the TIME function to assemble the time. In the example shown, the formula in F5 is:
=TIME(MID(B5...
To extract lines from a multi-line cell, you can use a clever (and intimidating) formula that combines 5 Excel functions: TRIM, MID, SUBSTITUTE, REPT, and LEN.
In the example shown, the formula in D5 is:
=TRIM(MID(...
To strip html or other markup from values in cells, you can use the MID function.
In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,4,LEN(B5)-7)
How this formula works
The MID function returns characters using a...
To remove the protocol (i.e. http://, ftp://, etc.) and trailing slash from a URL, you can use a formual based on the MID, FIND, and LEN functions. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,FIND("//...
To extract text between parentheses, braces, brackets, etc. you can use a formula based on the MID function, with help from SEARCH function. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=MID(B5,SEARCH("(",B5...
If you need to get the nth word in a text string (i.e. a sentence, phrase, or paragraph) you can so with a clever (and intimidating) formula that combines 5 Excel functions: TRIM, MID, SUBSTITUTE, REPT, and LEN.
How...
To abbreviate text that contains capital letters, you can try this array formula based on the TEXTJOIN function, a new function available in Office 365 and Excel 2019. You can use this approach to create initials from...
To split dimensions that like 100x50x25 into three separate parts, you can use some rather complicated formulas that use LEFT, MID, RIGHT, FIND, LEN, and SUBSTITUTE.
Note: you can also use Flash Fill in Excel 2013 and...
To highlight numbers less than a certain value, including numbers entered as text like "
You can reverse a text string with the TEXTJOIN and MID functions, by using an array constant. In the example shown, the formula in C5 is:
=TEXTJOIN("",1,MID(B5,{10,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1},1))
How this formula...
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