How to Use Arrays in Google Sheets

By Lauren Farrell

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Google Sheets is a powerful tool for managing and analyzing data, but as your spreadsheets become more complex, you may need more advanced tools to perform calculations and analysis.

Arrays are one such feature. This function in Google Sheets allows you to perform complex calculations across multiple cells or ranges of cells.

Using arrays in Google Sheets can be daunting for beginners, but with a little practice, they can be a game-changer for managing and analyzing data. In this blog post, we’ll take a deep dive into how to use arrays in Google Sheets, from basic formulas to more advanced techniques.

Table of Contents

What do arrays do in Google Sheets?

Arrays in Google Sheets are used to perform calculations on multiple cells or ranges of cells simultaneously, without having to create a separate formula for each cell.

An array formula is a special type of formula that can be used to perform calculations across multiple cells in a column, row, or even across multiple columns and rows.

Array formulas are surrounded by curly braces { } and are created by typing the formula and then pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter (on Windows) or Command + Shift + Enter (on Mac).

An array formula is identified by the presence of curly braces { }. The basic syntax of an array formula in Google Sheets is:

{formula(range)}

“Formula” is any valid formula, and “range” is the range of cells to which the formula should be applied.

For example, if you wanted to calculate the sum of the values in cells A1 to A10, you could use the following array formula:

=SUM(A1:A10)

When you enter this formula as an array formula (by pressing Ctrl + Shift + Enter), Google Sheets will automatically apply the formula to all of the cells in the selected range, producing a single result in each cell.

Arrays can also be used with other functions like AVERAGE, MAX, MIN, and COUNT, as well as with logical functions like IF and AND. Using arrays can be a powerful way to perform complex calculations and analyses in Google Sheets.

The Benefits of Using Arrays in Google Sheets

Like many formulas used in Google Sheets, the main benefit of arrays is the ability to work with data faster and more simply. A few of the specific benefits of arrays include:

  • Efficiency. Arrays can perform calculations on multiple cells or ranges of cells simultaneously, saving time and reducing the amount of manual work required.
  • Flexibility. Arrays can be used with a wide range of functions and …read more

    Source:: HubSpot Blog

          

    Aaron
    Author: Aaron

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