Google Sheets has a wide range of features, but COUNTIFS stands out as an important tool for data analysis. This popular function enables you to extract useful information and provide answers to questions about your data by allowing you to count cells in a range that satisfies particular criteria.
To count the number of cells, use the COUNTIFS function, which will be explained with examples in this post.
What is the COUNTIFS Function in Google Sheets?
The COUNTIFS function in Google Sheets can be used to count the number of cells in a given range that meet different criteria and it gives you the ability to analyze data based on numerous criteria at once, offering a versatile and effective technique to draw out important information from your datasets.
What are some uses for the COUNTIFS function?
The application of the COUNTIFS function Google Sheets are:
- Filtering: To filter the data with the COUNTIFS function using a variety of criteria. You can analyze portions of your data and gain important knowledge by counting cells that satisfy certain criteria.
- Conditional Counting: To count cells based on complex circumstances with COUNTIFS. By combining different criteria, you can use logical operators like AND and OR.
- Data Validation and Quality Control: COUNTIFS can be used for data quality assurance and validation.
- Statistical Analysis: The COUNTIFS function can be used to perform statistical analysis. It can count cells that meet particular statistical requirements, like counting values that fall within a certain range or counting cells that are higher or lower than particular criteria.
- Survey Analysis: The COUNTIFS function is helpful when working with survey data to analyze responses.
What is the General Syntax of the COUNTIFS Function in Google Sheets?
The general syntax of the usage of the COUNTIFS function in Google Sheets is:
=COUNTIFS(range1, criterion1, range2, criterion2, ...)
The explanation of the above-mentioned general syntax is:
- Use the “COUNTIFS” to invoke the function
- Define the range and then its criteria using the “comma ,”
- Multiple ranges can be used with their criteria
The COUNTIFS function scans each cell in the specified ranges and only counts those that satisfy the defined criteria. When analyzing datasets with complicated filtering needs, it offers a lot of freedom.
Examples of usage of the Google Sheets COUNTIFS function?
Consider the example of the “Sales” of a company in different regions of the World and this example will help to understand the usage of the COUNTIFS function. The Google Sheet of the “Sales” of the company is:
Now we will count the number of countries in Asia region by using the formula:
=COUNTIFS(B2:B6, "Asia")
Press the ENTER key to display the results:
There are two countries in the Asia region. Now we will count the number of countries which are having sales of more than “200” dollars:
=COUNTIFS(C2:C6, ">200")
Again press the ENTER key to show the results of the applied formula:
There are five countries which are having sales of more than 200 dollars.
What are the Key Points While Using the COUNTIFS Function?
When you are using the COUNTIFS function in Google Sheets, make sure the below-mentioned things to make the perfect results:
- Syntax: You must follow a specified syntax while using the COUNTIFS function and it requires a number of arguments, each of which has a range and criteria
- Multiple criteria: You can define multiple criteria using COUNTIFS to count cells that satisfy various requirements
- Logical operators: COUNTIFS supports the logical operators less than (=), equal to (=), not equal to (>), greater than or equal to (>=), and less than or equal to (=)
- Wildcards: To match patterns, you can use the wildcard characters (* and?) in the criterion. The asterisk (*) denotes any number of characters, but the question mark (?) denotes one character
- Range and criteria order: Make that the ranges and requirements are listed in the proper order. The first parameter should be the range to be counted, and then the associated criterion range and criteria
Conclusion
To use the COUNTIFS function in Google Sheets, define the range and criteria in the general syntax of “=COUNTIFS(range, criterion)”. This post has explained the COUNTIFS function and used an example to explain the usage of this formula. When working with huge data sheets, this formula is extremely helpful for counting the cells.
