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Excel UNIQUE Function

Excel UNIQUE function
Summary 
The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.
Purpose 
Extract unique values from range
Return value 
Array of unique values
Syntax 
=UNIQUE (array, [by_col], [occurs_once])
Arguments 
  • array - Range or array from which to extract unique values.
  • by_col - [optional] How to sort. By row = FALSE (default); by column = TRUE.
  • occurs_once - [optional] TRUE = values that occur once, FALSE= all unique values (default).
Usage notes 

The Excel UNIQUE function extracts a list of unique values from a range. The result is a dynamic array of values. If this array is the final result (i.e. not handed off to another function) array values will "spill" onto the worksheet into a range that automatically updates when new uniques values are added or removed from the source range.

Examples

To return unique values from in the range A1:A10, you can use a formula like this:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10)

To return unique values from the horizontal range A1:E1, set the by_col argument to TRUE or 1:

=UNIQUE(A1:E1,1) // extract unique from horizontal array

The UNIQUE function has an optional argument called occurs_once that controls how the function deals with repeating values. By default, occurs_once is FALSE. This means UNIQUE will exact unique values regardless of how many times they appear in the source data. If set to TRUE or 1, UNIQUE will extract only unique values that appear just once in the source data:

=UNIQUE(A1:A10,0,1) // values that appear once only
Note: The UNIQUE function is a new "Dynamic Array Function" in Excel. It is a beta feature available only through the Office Insiders program. Dynamic Array functions are expected to be released in 2019 to Office 365 subscribers.
Related functions 
Excel UNIQUE function
Excel UNIQUE Function
The Excel UNIQUE function returns a list of unique values in a list or range. Values can be text, numbers, dates, times, etc.
Excel FILTER function
Excel FILTER Function

The Excel FILTER function filters a range of data based on supplied criteria, and extracts matching records.

Excel RANDARRAY function
Excel RANDARRAY Function

The Excel RANDARRAY function generates an array of random numbers between. The size or the array is is specified by rows and columns arguments. Generated values can be either decimals or whole numbers.

Excel SEQUENCE function
Excel SEQUENCE Function

The Excel SEQUENCE function generates a list of sequential numbers in an array. The array can be one dimensional, or two-dimensional. Start and step values are arguments.

Excel SINGLE function
Excel SINGLE Function
The Excel SINGLE function returns a single value using implicit intersection. The SINGLE function is provided for backwards compatibility with implicit intersection formulas in earlier versions of Excel.
Excel SORT function
Excel SORT Function

The Excel SORT function sorts the contents of a range or array. Values can be sorted by one or more columns. SORT returns a dynamic array of results.

Excel SORTBY function
Excel SORTBY Function
The Excel SORTBY function sorts the contents of a range or array based on the values from another range or array. The range or array used to sort does not need to appear in results.

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