Google Sheetsspreadsheet~10 mins

UNIQUE function in Google Sheets - Cell-by-Cell Formula Trace

Choose your learning style9 modes available

Sample Data

A list of fruit names with some duplicates in column A.

Formula Trace

=UNIQUE(A1:A6)

Step 1: A1:A6

Step 2: UNIQUE(["Apple", "Banana", "Apple", "Orange", "Banana", "Grape"])

Cell Reference Map

Apple

↓

Banana

↓

Apple

↓

Orange

↓

Banana

↓

Grape

The formula references cells A1 through A6 which contain fruit names with duplicates.

Result

   B   
1 Apple 
2 Banana
3 Orange
4 Grape

The UNIQUE function outputs the list of fruits without duplicates starting in cell B1.

Sheet Trace Quiz - 3 Questions

Test your understanding

What does the UNIQUE function do with the list in A1:A6?

AIt counts how many times each fruit appears.

BIt removes duplicate fruit names and shows only one of each.

CIt sorts the fruit names alphabetically.

DIt reverses the order of the fruit names.

Key Result

UNIQUE(range) returns a list of unique values from the given range, removing duplicates.