LABEL for column headers in Google Sheets - Practice Problems & Coding Challenges

Challenge - 5 Problems

📊 Formula Result

intermediate

What is the output of this LABEL formula?

Given the formula =LABEL(A1:C1, {"Name", "Age", "City"}) in Google Sheets, what will be the output in the range A1:C1?

Google Sheets

=LABEL(A1:C1, {"Name", "Age", "City"})

A The cells A1, B1, and C1 will display "Name", "Age", and "City" respectively.

B The formula will clear the contents of A1:C1 without adding any labels.

C The formula will produce a #NAME? error because LABEL is not a valid function.

D The formula will display the array {"Name", "Age", "City"} as text in cell A1 only.

💡 Hint

Check if LABEL is a valid function in Google Sheets.

Google Sheets does not have a function named LABEL. Trying to use it will result in a #NAME? error.

🎯 Scenario

intermediate

How to add headers to a data range without typing in cells?

You want to add column headers "Product", "Price", "Quantity" above your data in cells A2:C10 without manually typing them in A1:C1. Which formula approach can you use?

A Use <code>=SETHEADER(A1:C1, {"Product", "Price", "Quantity"})</code> in cell A1.

B Use <code>=ARRAYFORMULA({"Product", "Price", "Quantity"; A2:C10})</code> in cell A1.

C Use <code>=TRANSPOSE({"Product", "Price", "Quantity"})</code> in cell A1.

D Use <code>=LABEL(A1:C1, {"Product", "Price", "Quantity"})</code> in cell A1.

💡 Hint

Think about combining headers and data into one array.

The ARRAYFORMULA with curly braces and a semicolon stacks the header row above the data range dynamically.

❓ Function Choice

advanced

Which function can dynamically label columns based on the first row?

You want to create a dynamic named range that uses the first row as column headers for your data in A1:D100. Which function helps you extract the headers as a list?

A INDEX(A1:D1, 1, 0)

B FILTER(A2:D100, A1:D1)

C TRANSPOSE(A1:D1)

D SPLIT(A1:D1, ",")

💡 Hint

You want to get the entire first row as a horizontal array.

INDEX with row 1 and column 0 returns the entire first row as an array of headers.

❓ data_analysis

advanced

How many columns will be labeled by this formula?

Given the formula =ARRAYFORMULA({"ID", "Name", "Score"; A2:C10}) in cell A1, how many columns will have headers labeled?

Google Sheets

=ARRAYFORMULA({"ID", "Name", "Score"; A2:C10})

A 3 columns will have headers labeled.

B Only 1 column will have a header labeled.

C No columns will have headers labeled because the formula is invalid.

D 4 columns will have headers labeled.

💡 Hint

Count the number of items in the header array.

The header array has 3 items, so 3 columns will be labeled.

🧠 Conceptual

expert

What error occurs when using LABEL function in Google Sheets?

You enter =LABEL(A1:C1, {"A", "B", "C"}) in Google Sheets. What error message will you see?

Google Sheets

=LABEL(A1:C1, {"A", "B", "C"})

A No error; the labels are applied successfully.

B #REF! error because the range is invalid.

C #VALUE! error because the array is malformed.

D #NAME? error because LABEL is not a recognized function.

💡 Hint

Check if LABEL is a built-in function in Google Sheets.

LABEL is not a valid function in Google Sheets, so it returns a #NAME? error.

Practice

1. What does the LABEL clause do in a Google Sheets QUERY function?

easy

A. It filters rows based on a condition.

B. It sorts the data in ascending order.

C. It changes the column headers to custom names.

D. It sums up the values in a column.

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand the purpose of LABEL

   The LABEL clause is used to rename column headers in the QUERY output.

2. Step 2: Compare with other QUERY clauses

   Filtering, sorting, and summing are done by WHERE, ORDER BY, and aggregation functions, not LABEL.

3. Final Answer:

   It changes the column headers to custom names. -> Option C

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL = rename headers [OK]

Hint: LABEL changes headers, not data content or order [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Confusing LABEL with WHERE or ORDER BY
• Thinking LABEL filters rows
• Assuming LABEL sums values

2. Which of the following is the correct syntax to rename the first column header to "Name" using LABEL in a QUERY formula?

easy

A. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'")

B. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL 'Name' A")

C. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A = 'Name'")

D. =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A : 'Name'")

Solution

1. Step 1: Recall LABEL syntax

   The correct syntax is LABEL column_identifier 'new_label' without extra symbols.

2. Step 2: Check each option

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'") uses correct syntax: LABEL A 'Name'. Others have wrong order or symbols.

3. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:C10, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Name'") -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL column 'new_label' syntax [OK]

Hint: Use LABEL column 'new_label' exactly inside QUERY string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Putting LABEL outside the QUERY string
• Using = or : instead of space before label
• Swapping label and column order

3. Given the data in A1:B3:
Name | Score
Alice | 90
Bob | 85
What will be the output headers when using:
=QUERY(A1:B3, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Student', B 'Points'")?

medium

A. Student | Points

B. Name | Score

C. A | B

D. Name | Points

Solution

1. Step 1: Understand QUERY with LABEL

   The QUERY selects columns A and B and renames headers using LABEL clause.

2. Step 2: Apply LABEL renaming

   Column A header changes to 'Student', column B header changes to 'Points'.

3. Final Answer:

   Student | Points -> Option A

4. Quick Check:

   LABEL renames headers as specified [OK]

Hint: LABEL changes headers, not data rows [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Thinking original headers remain
• Confusing column letters with headers
• Ignoring LABEL clause effect

4. You wrote this formula:
=QUERY(A1:C5, "SELECT A, B LABEL A 'Product', B 'Price'")
But the headers did not change. What is the likely error?

medium

A. The LABEL clause must come before SELECT.

B. The LABEL clause is missing commas between labels.

C. The LABEL clause requires double quotes around labels.

D. The LABEL clause must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT.

Solution

1. Step 1: Check LABEL placement

   LABEL must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT clause.

2. Step 2: Common placement error

   Users often mistakenly place the LABEL clause outside the QUERY string (e.g., =QUERY(A1:C5, "SELECT A, B") LABEL A 'Product', B 'Price'), causing it to be ignored.

3. Step 3: Identify common mistake

   This is the most likely reason headers do not change.

4. Final Answer:

   The LABEL clause must be inside the QUERY string after SELECT. -> Option D

5. Quick Check:

   LABEL inside QUERY string needed [OK]

Hint: Keep LABEL inside the QUERY string after SELECT [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Placing LABEL outside the QUERY string
• Using commas inside LABEL clause
• Adding quotes incorrectly around labels

5. You want to use QUERY on range A1:D10 and rename columns A, C, and D to "Date", "Sales", and "Profit" respectively, but keep column B header unchanged. Which formula correctly applies LABEL for this?

hard

A. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales' D 'Profit'")

B. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'")

C. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date' C 'Sales' D 'Profit'")

D. =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', B 'Sales', C 'Profit'")

Solution

1. Step 1: Identify columns to rename

   Columns A, C, and D need new labels; B stays the same.

2. Step 2: Check LABEL syntax and commas

   Each label pair must be separated by commas inside LABEL clause.

3. Step 3: Verify options

   =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'") correctly renames A, C, D with commas; others have wrong columns or missing commas.

4. Final Answer:

   =QUERY(A1:D10, "SELECT A, B, C, D LABEL A 'Date', C 'Sales', D 'Profit'") -> Option B

5. Quick Check:

   LABEL pairs separated by commas, correct columns [OK]

Hint: Separate each LABEL pair with commas inside QUERY string [OK]

Common Mistakes:

• Forgetting commas between label pairs
• Renaming wrong columns
• Missing quotes around new labels