Return the position of one text string inside another (case-sensitive).
This function works the same in Google Sheets as it does in Excel — same syntax and arguments.
FIND(find_text, within_text, [start_num])FIND locates where a substring begins within text and returns its position number. It's case-sensitive (use SEARCH for case-insensitive and wildcards). Most useful nested inside MID/LEFT/RIGHT to split fields dynamically.
=FIND("-", "AB-1234")Result: 3
The dash is at position 3.
=MID(A2, FIND("-", A2)+1, 4)Result: 1234
Extracts text after the dash dynamically.
FIND is case-sensitive and no wildcards; SEARCH is case-insensitive and supports wildcards.