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The FILTER function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool that allows users to extract specific data from a larger set of information. One of its most useful features is the ability to use a wildcard to filter data. A wildcard is a symbol or character that represents any other character or set of characters, allowing for a broad search. By incorporating a wildcard into the FILTER function, users can easily filter their data based on specific criteria without having to manually input every value. This can save time and effort, especially when dealing with large datasets. To use the FILTER function with a wildcard, simply include the wildcard symbol in the criteria section of the function and it will automatically filter out any data that matches the criteria. Overall, utilizing the FILTER function with a wildcard can greatly improve the efficiency and accuracy of data analysis in Google Sheets.
Google Sheets: Use FILTER with Wildcard
You can use the following formula in Google Sheets to use a wildcard character within a FILTER function:
=FILTER(A2:C11,search("avs",A2:A11))
This particular formula will filter the cells in the range A2:C11 to only contain the rows where the value in A2:A11 contains “avs” somewhere in the cell.
The following example shows how to use this formula in practice.
Example: Use FILTER with Wildcard in Google Sheets
Suppose we have the following dataset in Google Sheets that contains information about various basketball players:
Now suppose that we would like to filter the dataset to only contain rows where the value in the Team column contains “avs” somewhere in the name.
We can type the following formula into cell A13 to apply this filter:
=FILTER(A2:C11,search("avs",A2:A11))The following screenshot shows how to use this formula in practice:
Notice that the only rows displayed in the filtered dataset contain the string “avs” somewhere in the team name.
To search for a different string, simply replace “avs” with another string in the formula.
For example, we can use the following formula to filter for rows where the team name contains “ets” somewhere in the name:
=FILTER(A2:C11,search("ets",A2:A11))The following screenshot shows how to use this formula in practice:
Now the only rows displayed in the filtered dataset contain the string “ets” somewhere in the team name.
The following tutorials explain how to perform other common tasks in Google Sheets:
Cite this article
stats writer (2024). How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Retrieved from https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-filter-function-in-google-sheets-with-a-wildcard/
stats writer. "How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 25 Jun. 2024, https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-filter-function-in-google-sheets-with-a-wildcard/.
stats writer. "How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?." PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, 2024. https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-filter-function-in-google-sheets-with-a-wildcard/.
stats writer (2024) 'How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?', PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. Available at: https://scales.arabpsychology.com/stats/how-can-i-use-the-filter-function-in-google-sheets-with-a-wildcard/.
[1] stats writer, "How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?," PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES, vol. X, no. Y, ص Z-Z, June, 2024.
stats writer. How can I use the FILTER function in Google Sheets with a wildcard?. PSYCHOLOGICAL SCALES. 2024;vol(issue):pages.