How to use the XOR function
Author: Oscar Cronquist Article last updated on May 18, 2022
The XOR function was introduced in Excel 2013 and calculates the logical exclusive OR meaning if at least one of the arguments evaluates to TRUE then the XOR returns TRUE. All arguments must be evaluated to FALSE for the XOR function to return FALSE.
Formula in cell D3:
=XOR(B3,C3)
Excel Function Syntax
XOR(logical1, [logical2],…)
Arguments
| logical1 | Required. A condition that evaluates to either TRUE or FALSE or their numerical equivalents 1 or 0 (zero). An argument may also be a reference or array. |
| [logical2] | Optional. Up to 253 additional conditions. |
Comments
The XOR function returns #VALUE! error value if no logical values can be found in the arguments.
The XOR function ignores empty and text values, 0 (zero) is evaluated to FALSE and any other value is evaluated to TRUE.
Functions in this article
Functions in 'Logical' category
The XOR function function is one of many functions in the 'Logical' category.
Perform a logical test in each argument and if all arguments return TRUE the AND function returns TRUE.
Returns the logical (boolean) value FALSE.
Returns one value if the logical test is TRUE and another value if the logical test is FALSE.
If the value argument returns an error, the value_if_error argument is used. If the value argument does NOT return an error, the IFERROR function returns the value argument.
Handles #N/A errors only, it returns a specific value if the formula returns a #N/A error.
Checks whether one or more conditions are met and returns a value that corresponds to the first TRUE condition.
Build custom functions without VBA, macros or javascript.
Returns the boolean opposite to the given argument.
Evaluates a logical expression in each argument and if at least one argument returns TRUE the OR function returns TRUE. If all arguments return FALSE the OR function also returns FALSE.
Returns a given value determined by an expression and a list of values.
Returns the logical (boolean) value TRUE.
Calculates the logical exclusive OR meaning if at least one of the arguments evaluates to TRUE then the XOR returns TRUE. All arguments must be evaluated to FALSE for the XOR function to return FALSE.
Excel function categories
Excel functions that let you resize, combine, and shape arrays.
Functions for backward compatibility with earlier Excel versions. Compatibility functions are replaced with newer functions with improved accuracy. Use the new functions if compatibility isn't required.
Perform basic operations to a database-like structure.
Functions that let you perform calculations to Excel date and time values.
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Functions that let you get information from a cell, formatting, formula, worksheet, workbook, filepath, and other entitites.
Functions that let you return and manipulate logical values, and also control formula calculations based on logical expressions.
These functions let you sort, lookup, get external data like stock quotes, filter values based a condition or criteria, and get the relative position of a given value in a specific cell range. They also let you calculate row, column, and other properties of cell references.
You will find functions in this category that calculates random values, round numerical values, create sequential numbers, trigonometry, and more.
Calculate distributions, binomial distributions, exponential distribution, probabilities, variance, covariance, confidence interval, frequency, geometric mean, standard deviation, average, median, and other statistical metrics.
Functions that let you manipulate text values, substitute strings, find string in value, extract a substring in a string, convert characters to ANSI code among other functions.
Get data from the internet, extract data from an XML string and more.
Excel categories
Latest updated articles.
More than 300 Excel functions with detailed information including syntax, arguments, return values, and examples for most of the functions used in Excel formulas.
More than 1300 formulas organized in subcategories.
Excel Tables simplifies your work with data, adding or removing data, filtering, totals, sorting, enhance readability using cell formatting, cell references, formulas, and more.
Allows you to filter data based on selected value , a given text, or other criteria. It also lets you filter existing data or move filtered values to a new location.
Lets you control what a user can type into a cell. It allows you to specifiy conditions and show a custom message if entered data is not valid.
Lets the user work more efficiently by showing a list that the user can select a value from. This lets you control what is shown in the list and is faster than typing into a cell.
Lets you name one or more cells, this makes it easier to find cells using the Name box, read and understand formulas containing names instead of cell references.
The Excel Solver is a free add-in that uses objective cells, constraints based on formulas on a worksheet to perform what-if analysis and other decision problems like permutations and combinations.
An Excel feature that lets you visualize data in a graph.
Format cells or cell values based a condition or criteria, there a multiple built-in Conditional Formatting tools you can use or use a custom-made conditional formatting formula.
Lets you quickly summarize vast amounts of data in a very user-friendly way. This powerful Excel feature lets you then analyze, organize and categorize important data efficiently.
VBA stands for Visual Basic for Applications and is a computer programming language developed by Microsoft, it allows you to automate time-consuming tasks and create custom functions.
A program or subroutine built in VBA that anyone can create. Use the macro-recorder to quickly create your own VBA macros.
UDF stands for User Defined Functions and is custom built functions anyone can create.
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