Check if value is in list in Excel (3 easy methods)

While working on excel with lots of data, some times you want to check if a certain value exists in a list. This might seem a simple task when your list is small and you can check manually that whether the required value exists in that list. But when you are required to check a bigger list of data in to see excel value in list WPS (2016/2019/mac/online) then it becomes a very tough task and it might take you ages to perform this task. Luckily there are different shortcuts possible in excel to find if a value exists in list in excel.

This article covers different shortcut methods in excel value in list WPS (2016/2019/mac/online). Once you go through this article you will be able to easily identify if a value exists in a list.

Three different shortcut ways of checking if a value exists in a list in excel.

Using COUNTIF function to check if a value exists in list in excel: 

Among different ways to check if a value exists in a list the first methods is using COUNTIF function. You can use COUNTIF formula to see if a value exists in a list by following simple below mentioned steps and picture illustrations.

Steps:

1.Open WPS Excel /Spreadsheet file where you want to check if a value exists in list in excel.

2.Click on the cell where you want your output to reflect whether a value exists in list.Type “=COUNTIF” and press Tab.

3.COUNTIF Function will be initiated.You need to enter two parameters in this function I.e. Range (list in which which you want to check if a value exists in it)Criteria (Here you enter the value inside inverted commas I.e. “xyz”)

Then you press enter.This function will return the exact number of times the required value exists in the selected list.

Using COUNTIF embedded in IF function to check if a value exists in list in excel: 

Another way of checking if value exists in list is by using a COUNTIF function embedded in IF function. You can use this method to see if a value exists in a list by following simple below mentioned steps and picture illustrations.

Steps:

1.Open WPS Excel /Spreadsheet file where you want to check if a value exists in list in excel.

2.Click on the cell where you want your output to reflect whether a value exists in list.Type “=IF(COUNTIF” and press Tab.

3.IF Function with embedded COUNTIF Function will be initiated.You need to enter four parameters in this function I.e. Range (list in which which you want to check if a value exists in it)Criteria (Here you enter the value inside inverted commas I.e. “xyz”)Value IF True (You can use “Yes” here)Value IF False (You can use “No” here)

4.Then you press enter.This function will return whether a value exists in a list in simple yes or no terms instead of exact number of time as shown section 1.1.

Using MATCH Function embedded in ISNUMBER function to check if a value exists in list in excel: 

Another method of checking if a value exists in a list is to use MATCH Function Embedded in ISNUMBER function.

Steps:

1.Open WPS Excel /Spreadsheet file where you want to check if a value exists in list in excel.

2.Click on the cell where you want your output to reflect whether a value exists in list.

3.Type “=ISNUMBER(MATCH” and press Tab.ISNUMBER Function with embedded MATCH Function will be initiated.You need to enter three parameters in this function I.e. Lookup Value  (value that needs to be checked in a list)Look Up Array (list in which the value is to be checked)Match Type (This must be set to 0 to search for an exact match)

4.Then you press enter.This function will return whether a value exists in a list in simple True or False terms instead of exact number of time as shown section 1.1.

This article has covered the three different shortcut ways to check if a value exists in a list in excel.

Hopefully you have learned How to check Excel value in list WPS (2016/2019/mac/online) ?  If you want to know more about Excel features, you can follow WPS Academy to learn.
You can also download WPS Office to edit the word documents, excel, and PowerPoint for free of cost. Download now! And get an easy and enjoyable working experience.