SWITCH: one of several values

How SWITCH works

• What does SWITCH do?

  SWITCH looks at one value and compares it with a list. When it finds a match, it returns the result paired with it:

  =SWITCH(B2,"N","North","S","South","Unknown")

• How do you read it?

  • First, the value to check: B2.
  • Then pairs: a value to match, and the result for it. "N" gives "North", "S" gives "South".
  • Last, on its own, the default: what to show when nothing matches.

• What if there is no default?

  A value that matches nothing gives #N/A. Adding a default such as "Unknown" catches typos and new codes.

• Why not nested IFs?

  =IF(B2="N","North",IF(B2="S","South",...)) works, but every extra code adds another IF and another bracket. SWITCH names B2 once and lists the pairs, so it is easier to read and to extend. Use IFS instead when the questions are different, such as B2>=70, not one value matched against a list.

• Does case matter?

  No. "n" matches "N", just as it does with =.