IF Function: Logical Tests and Nested IFs

Basic IF Syntax

=IF(logical_test, value_if_true, value_if_false)

Simple Examples

• =IF(A1>100, "High", "Low")
• =IF(B1="Yes", 1, 0)
• =IF(C1>=60, "Pass", "Fail")

Nested IF

For multiple conditions:

=IF(A1>=90, "A", IF(A1>=80, "B", IF(A1>=70, "C", "F")))

IFS Function (Modern Alternative)

=IFS(A1>=90, "A", A1>=80, "B", A1>=70, "C", TRUE, "F")

Combining with AND/OR

• =IF(AND(A1>10, B1>10), "Both high", "Not both")
• =IF(OR(A1="Red", A1="Blue"), "Primary", "Other")

SWITCH Function

For matching specific values:

=SWITCH(A1, 1, "One", 2, "Two", 3, "Three", "Other")

Best Practices

• Avoid deeply nested IFs (max 3-4 levels)
• Use IFS for multiple conditions
• Use SWITCH for value matching
• Consider lookup tables for complex logic

Conclusion

IF is fundamental, but explore IFS and SWITCH for cleaner, more maintainable formulas.