How to Extract Text from a Cell in Excel (5 Ways)

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5 Ways to Extract Text from a Cell in Excel

Method 1 – Using the LEFT Function to Extract Text from a Cell

The LEFT function extracts a particular number of characters from the left of a string.

Syntax of the LEFT Function:

We are going to extract the first 4 characters from the cells in column B.

Steps:

• Insert the following formula in Cell C5.

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of cells C6:C9.

Read More: How to Extract Text after a Specific Text in Excel

Method 2 – Using the RIGHT Function to Extract Text

The RIGHT function extracts a specific number of characters from the end of a string.

Syntax of the RIGHT Function:

We are going to extract the 4 characters from the right.

Steps:

• Use the following formula in Cell C5.

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of cells C6:C9.

Method 3 – Using the MID Function to Extract Text from a Cell in Excel

Syntax of the MID Function:

=MID(text, start_num, num_chars)

We have some codes divided into 3 parts. We are going to extract the middle 4 characters.

Steps:

• Insert this formula in Cell C5.

• Press Enter.
• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of cells C6:C9.

Read More: How to Extract Certain Text from a Cell in Excel VBA

Method 4 – Extract Text from a Cell Using Formulas

Example 4.1 – Extract Text Before a Particular Character

The Generic Formula:

We have a dataset consisting of some codes separated by a hyphen “-”. We’ll extract the text before the hyphen.

Steps:

• Use the following formula in cell C5.

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of cells C6:C9

Read More: Extract Text Before Character in Excel

Example 4.2 – Extract Text after a Particular Character

The Generic Formula:

We want to pick the characters after the “-” character.

Steps:

• Use the following formula in Cell C5:

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of cells C6:C9.

Read More: Extract Text After a Character in Excel

Example 4.3 – Extract Text Between Two Specific Characters from a Cell Using the MID and SEARCH Functions

We have a dataset of the Full names of some people. We are going to extract the middle name of each person.

Steps:

• Use this formula in Cell C5:

• Press Enter.

• Drag the Fill Handle over the range of Cells C6:C9.

Read More: How to Extract Text Between Two Commas in Excel

Method 5 – Using Find and Replace to Pick Text from a Cell

We have a list of emails and want to extract the username and domain name.

Case 5.1 – Extracting the Username from the Email

Steps:

• Copy the Text column values and paste them on the Extracted Text column.

• Select all those values.

• Press Ctrl + F. You will get the Find and Replace dialog box.

• In the Find What box type “@*”. It will select all the characters starting from the @.
• Keep the Replace With box blank.
• Click on Replace All.

• You’ll get a notification on how many replacements were made. Click OK.
• Close the Find and Replace box.

Case 5.2 – Extracting the Domain Name

Steps:

• Follow the previous case to make a copy of the mails and open the Find and Replace dialog box.

• In the Find What box, type “*@”. It will find all the characters from the beginning along with @.
• Keep the Replace With box blank.
• Click on Replace All.
• Press OK on the notification and close the dialog box.

Extract Text in Excel: Knowledge Hub

• How to Extract Text after Second Comma in Excel
• Extract Text After First Space in Excel
• Extract Text between Two Spaces in Excel
• How to Extract Text after Second Space in Excel
• Extract Text After Last Space in Excel

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