UNIQUE

Returns a list of unique values found within a specified range or array

Syntax:

UNIQUE(argument)

argument is the range or array that we want to look at.

Example:

If A1:A10 contains 1, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 4, 5, and 6:

UNIQUE(A1:A10)

Uses a range and returns [1,2,3,4,5,6]

UNIQUE([1,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,5,6])

uses an array and returns [1,2,3,4,5,6]

B1 contains UNIQUE(A1:A10) and B2 contains UNIQUE([1,1,2,2,3,3,3,4,5,6])

	A	B
1	1	[1,2,3,4,5,6]
2	1	[1,2,3,4,5,6]
3	2
4	2
5	3
6	3
7	3
8	4
9	5
10	6

Application:

Imagine you are a regional manager for a retail company and you want to see which states your stores are located in. You have a spreadsheet with a list of all your stores, and many stores are located in the same state.

Initial Data (Table of All Stores):

	Store ID	Store Name	Territory
	A	B	C
1	101	Horizon Plaza	Zone Alpha
2	102	Northwood Mall	Zone Beta
3	103	Midtown Galleria	Zone Alpha
4	104	Sunset Market	Zone Gamma
5	105	Lakeside Emporium	Zone Delta
6	106	Downtown Outlets	Zone Beta
7	107	Valley Center	Zone Alpha
8	108	Bayfront Plaza	Zone Delta
9	109	Central City	Zone Gamma

You want to generate a simple, clean list of the territories where you have stores, without any duplicates.

Applying the UNIQUE function:

In a new cell (let's say E2), you would use the following formula (assuming your data is in columns A, B, and C):

UNIQUE(C2:C10)

Explanation:

UNIQUE is the function name.
C2:C10 is the range of cells you want to analyze. In this case, it's the Territory column.

Resulting Output:

The UNIQUE function will spill the following list into the cells below your formula:


	A
1	Zone Alpha
2	Zone Beta
3	Zone Gamma
4	Zone Delta

Conclusion:

Data Cleaning: It quickly cleans up a messy list of data to give you a clear, concise overview.
Analysis: It helps you easily identify unique categories, such as territories, product types, or employee departments, from a large dataset.
Reporting: You can use this unique list to create a drop-down menu for a dashboard or to generate a summary report.

This function saves you from the tedious manual process of scanning through a long list of data and trying to find all the unique entries one by one. It's an essential tool for data analysis and reporting.