Excel XOR Function
XOR Function
The XOR function is a premade function in Excel, which returns TRUE or FALSE based on two or more conditions.
Note: The XOR function is often used together with the IF function.
It is typed =XOR:
=XOR([logical1], [logical2], ...)
The conditions are referred to as [logical1], [logical2], and so on.
The conditions can check things like:
- If a number is greater than another number
> - If a number is smaller than another number
< - If a number or text is equal to something
=
For two conditions, you can think of the XOR function as: "either this or that, but not both"
Note: The different parts of the function are separated by a symbol, like comma , or semicolon ;
The symbol depends on your Language Settings.
Example XOR Function
Check if the Pokemon type is either Fire type OR has HP less than 60, but not both:
The function returns "TRUE" or "FALSE".
Example XOR function, step by step:
- Select the cell
D2 - Type
=XOR - Double click the XOR command
- Specify the first condition
B2="Fire" - Type
, - Specify the second condition
C2<60 - Hit enter
Note: You can add more conditions by repeating steps 5-6 before hitting enter.
The XOR function returns "TRUE" if an odd number (1,3,5,..) of conditions are TRUE.
Since the value in cell B2 is not "Fire" the first condition is FALSE.
Since the value in cell C2 is less than 60 the second condition is also FALSE.
For two conditions, only one condition should to be TRUE for the XOR function to return TRUE.
Note: Text values needs to be in quotes: " "
The function can be repeated with the filling function for each row to perform the same check for each Pokemon:
Now, each row has a check for Fire Type or HP less than 60, but not both:
For example:
- Ivysaur is not Fire type, but it also does not have less than 60 defense, so the function returns "FALSE".
- Charmeleon is Fire type, and has less than 60 defense, so the function returns "FALSE"
- Wartortle is not Fire type, but has less than 60 defense, so the function returns "TRUE"
Example XOR Function (with IF)
Combining the XOR function with an IF function lets you check multiple conditions for the IF function:
Note: The IF function lets you specify the return values.
The IF function is typed =IF and has 3 parts:
=IF(logical_test, [value_if_true], [value_if_false])
The XOR function takes the place of the logical_test condition.
Here, the IF function returns "Yes" or "No".
Example XOR function as the condition for IF function, step by step:
- Select cell
C2 - Type
=IF - Double click the IF command
- Type
XOR - Double click the XOR command
- Specify the first condition
B2="Fire" - Type
, - Specify the second condition
C2<60 - Type
), - Specify the value
"Yes"for when just one condition is TRUE - Type
, - Specify the value
"No"for when both are FALSE, or TRUE at the same time - Type
)and hit enter
The function can be repeated with the filling function for each row to perform the same check for each Pokemon:
Now, each row has a check for Water Type or Defense greater than 60, but not both:
For example:
- Ivysaur is not Fire type, but it also does not have less than 60 defense, so the function returns "No".
- Charmeleon is Fire type, and has less than 60 defense, so the function returns "No"
- Wartortle is not Fire type, but has less than 60 defense, so the function returns "Yes"
