In Google Sheets, where data reigns supreme, unlocking the potential of regular expressions (regex) is like discovering a secret treasure trove. However, many people still need to learn about navigating the intricacies of REGEX formulas and the power of Google Sheets Regex. So, how do you use REGEX formulas in Google Sheets? This guide will embark on a journey to demystify REGEX and give you confidence.
What is the REGEX Function in Google Sheets?
Google Sheets Regex, often abbreviated as REGEX, is a valuable tool for text string manipulation. This function excels in pattern recognition and addresses numerous text-related challenges within Google Sheets.
Users leverage Google Sheets Regex to effectively and efficiently locate names or phone numbers in datasets, validate email addresses, extract URLs from text, and even rename files containing “Application,” among other versatile applications.
Function 1: REGEXMATCH
The REGEXMATCH function determines whether a given text meets a specific pattern or condition defined by a regular expression. It evaluates the text and returns ‘TRUE’ if there is a match with the pattern and ‘FALSE’ if there is no match.
The syntax for this function is ‘REGEXMATCH(text, regular_expression)’
Function 2: REGEXEXTRACT
The REGEXEXTRACT function extracts a specific portion of text within a cell that matches a defined regular expression pattern. This function scans the text and identifies the part of the text that conforms to the specified pattern, then extracts and returns this matching portion as the output.
The syntax for this function is ‘REGEXEXTRACT(text, regular_expression)’
Function 3: REGEX REPLACE
The REGEX REPLACE function substitutes or replaces text in a cell that matches a given regular expression pattern with a replacement text. This function scans the text for any occurrences that match the pattern and replaces them with the provided replacement text.
The syntax for this function is ‘REGEXREPLACE(text, regular_expression, replacement)’
How to Use REGEX Functions in Google Sheets?
Follow the below steps to use each Google Sheets Regex function properly.
Function 1: REGEXMATCH
Step 1: Gather the dataset that you would like to test. In this example, we want to test if the email addresses in the “Email” column are from the “gmail.com” domain.
Step 2: Enter the syntax in the section ‘What is the REGEX function in Google Sheets?’ In this case, the syntax will be “=REGEXMATCH(B2, “@gmail\.com$”).
Step 3: Press “Enter” on your keyboard, and it will return “TRUE” if it finds a match.
Function 2: REGEXEXTRACT
Step 1: Gather the dataset that you would like to test. In this example, we want to extract the area code (the three digits in parentheses) from the “Phone Number” column.
Step 2: Enter the syntax in the section ‘What is the REGEX function in Google Sheets?’ In this case, the syntax will be “=REGEXEXTRACT(C3, “\((\d{3})\)”).
Step 3: Then press “Enter” on your keyboard, and it will extract the area code from the selected cell.
Function 3: REGEX REPLACE
Step 1: Gather the dataset that you would like to test. We will replace the area code with a different set in this example.
Step 2: Enter the syntax in the section ‘What is the REGEX function in Google Sheets?’ In this case, the syntax will be “=REGEXREPLACE(C6, “555”, “444”).
Step 3: Then press “Enter” on your keyboard, and it will return the phone number with the new area code.
A Comparison of 3 Functions - When to Use it?
REGEX MATCH
The best time to use REGEXMATCH is when you want to check if a specific pattern or condition exists within a text string. It’s ideal for validation and conditional formatting tasks.
REGEXMATCH is a valuable tool for quickly identifying text patterns. It’s like having a digital detective in your spreadsheet. We have found it incredibly handy for data quality control.
REGEXEXTRACT
The best time to use REGEXEXTRACT is to extract specific information from a text string based on a defined pattern. It’s perfect for data extraction tasks.
REGEXEXTRACT is a data extraction wizard. It’s fantastic for pulling out valuable information from large text datasets.
REGEXREPLACE
The best time to use REGEX REPLACE is to replace or modify portions of text that match a particular pattern with a different text or format. It’s excellent for text cleanup and formatting tasks.
REGEX REPLACE is like your virtual text editor. It’s a lifesaver when you need to sanitize or reformat data to make it more presentable or compatible with other systems.
Mastering these three Google Sheets Regex functions can significantly enhance your capabilities in Google Sheets. They empower you to work with text data in a precise and structured manner, making complex tasks more manageable.
Best Alternatives to Google Sheets - WPS Office
WPS Spreadsheets is a robust alternative to Google Sheets. It offers a comprehensive suite of office tools under WPS Office, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint alternatives. It’s designed for users who need a powerful and feature-rich spreadsheet application for tasks like data analysis, reporting, and document collaboration.
Pros of WPS Office:
Free download and Usage: WPS Office is free, eliminating the need for costly subscriptions or licensing fees.
Comprehensive Office Suite: It provides tools for word processing, spreadsheet management, and presentation creation, offering functionality similar to Microsoft Office.
Rich Template Store: Access a wide range of professionally designed templates to enhance document aesthetics and productivity.
Rich Functions: It offers diverse functions and features to handle various tasks, from complex data analysis to creative presentations.
Powerful PDF Toolkit: WPS Office includes robust PDF editing, conversion, and creation tools, simplifying PDF-related tasks.
Lightweight: Despite its feature-rich nature, WPS Office is lightweight and won’t slow down your computer’s performance.
Support for Online Documents: Collaborate seamlessly and access your documents online, enabling work from anywhere with an internet connection.
Safety and Stability: WPS Office is known for its reliability, providing a safe and stable platform for your office-related work.
We have found WPS Office to be a powerful and versatile suite. As part of this suite, WPS Spreadsheets offers distinct advantages over Google Sheets Regex. It boasts a comprehensive PDF toolkit, a rich template library, and compatibility with Microsoft Office formats.
Its rich functions cater to advanced users, while its lightweight nature ensures smooth performance on various hardware. WPS Office is well-suited for professionals, advanced spreadsheet users, and those who frequently work with PDFs. That makes it a valuable alternative in the office software landscape.
How to Free Download the WPS Office?
Step 1: Download the software to the official WPS Office website.
Step 2: Install WPS Office on your computer by following the instructions in the installation wizard.
Step 3: Once installed, launch the software, and you can begin using the different office programs, including Writer, Spreadsheets, and Presentation.
FAQS
1. What type of regex does Google Sheets use?
Google products use RE2 for regular expressions. Google Sheets supports RE2 except for Unicode character class matching. This function only works with input text (not numbers) and returns a logical value, i.e., ‘TRUE’ or ‘FALSE,’ as output.
2. Is regex case-sensitive in Google Sheets?
No, regex is case-insensitive by default in Google Sheets. You can enable case sensitivity with flags.
3. Can I use regex to manipulate dates in Google Sheets?
Yes, regex can help you extract and manipulate dates in Google Sheets, but it's often more efficient to use date functions.
4. Why is regex powerful?
Regex can add, remove, isolate, and manipulate text and data.
Summary
It should be noted that the Google Sheets Regex functions are convenient and powerful tools. They make it easy to work with datasets and save time. The regex match in the Google Sheets function makes identifying text patterns simple.
As good as Google Sheets may be, something even better that is also free is WPS Office. It provides a great user experience and an interface that makes it easy to adapt. The functionalities provided in the WPS Spreadsheet make the transition from Google Sheets much simpler.
