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CODE Function in Excel

Returns the numeric code for the first character in a text string.

Syntax

  • =CODE(text)

Arguments

  • text (required): Text to get first character code from

Examples

  • =CODE("A") - Code for letter A - Result: 65
  • =CODE("a") - Code for lowercase a - Result: 97

Excel CODE function documentation

  • CODE returns the numeric code for the first character in a text string.
  • Syntax: =CODE(text). Useful for diagnosing hidden character issues in imported data.
  • Use CODE to troubleshoot lookup mismatches and non-printable prefix characters.
  • Text function category: [/categories/text/](/categories/text/).

CODE syntax and first-character focus

  • text is required, and CODE evaluates only the first character.
  • Use LEFT, MID, or SUBSTITUTE to isolate other positions before CODE checks.
  • Legacy character-set behavior can vary by platform and language settings.
  • Pair with CLEAN and TRIM to fix detected control-character problems.

Step-by-step: detect hidden leading characters

  • Step 1 - Suspect values in column A where lookups fail unexpectedly.
  • Step 2 - In B2 use =CODE(A2).
  • Step 3 - Compare with expected normal codes such as letters or digits.
  • Step 4 - Clean source with TRIM(CLEAN(A2)) and retest lookup results.

CODE vs UNICODE vs CLEAN

  • CODE inspects first-character code in legacy encoding contexts.
  • UNICODE is preferred for modern Unicode-aware diagnostics.
  • CLEAN removes many non-printable control characters after detection.
  • Display checks can include [TEXT](/functions/text/) for debug labels.

Worked examples to copy

  • First-character code: =CODE(A2).
  • Check first char of trimmed text: =CODE(TRIM(A2)).
  • Classify printable range: =IF(CODE(A2)>=32,"Printable","Control").
  • Audit with char preview: =CODE(A2)&"-"&LEFT(A2,1).

People also ask

  • Why does CODE show unexpected values? - Hidden characters may exist at string start.
  • CODE or UNICODE for multilingual data? - UNICODE is safer for modern datasets.
  • Can CODE inspect the second character? - Yes, wrap MID(text,2,1).
  • Will CODE fix data automatically? - No, it helps diagnose issues before cleanup.

Common errors

  • Returns code for first character only

Use cases

  • Character analysis
  • Sorting logic
  • Data validation

Frequently asked questions

  • How do I check if a cell starts with a letter vs a number? Use CODE to check the first character: =IF(AND(CODE(A1)>=65, CODE(A1)<=90), "Uppercase", IF(AND(CODE(A1)>=97, CODE(A1)<=122), "Lowercase", IF(AND(CODE(A1)>=48, CODE(A1)<=57), "Number", "Other"))).
  • What is the difference between CODE and UNICODE? CODE returns ASCII values (0-255), suitable for basic Latin characters. UNICODE returns full Unicode code points, supporting all characters including emojis and international scripts. Use UNICODE for non-ASCII characters.
  • How do I get codes for all characters in a string? CODE only returns the first character's code. For all characters, use MID with CODE: =CODE(MID(A1, 1, 1)) for 1st, =CODE(MID(A1, 2, 1)) for 2nd, etc. Or create a helper column for each position.

Editorial review

  • Reviewed by Excel.Directory Editorial Team. Updated May 2026.

When to use CODE

  • Character analysis — common Text scenario for CODE.
  • Sorting logic — common Text scenario for CODE.
  • Data validation — common Text scenario for CODE.

CODE in the Text category

  • Browse all Text functions at /categories/text/ for related formulas.
  • CODE syntax: =CODE(text)
  • text (required): Text to get first character code from
  • Confirm CODE arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.

Formula checklist before you copy down

  • Confirm CODE arguments match the syntax shown above before filling down.
  • Lock table and range references with $ when copying formulas across rows or sheets.
  • If results look wrong, check for text stored as numbers and invisible spaces with TRIM.
  • Spot-check three known input rows manually against expected output.

Related Excel functions

  • CHAR (/functions/char/): Returns the character specified by a number (ASCII or Unicode code).
  • UNICODE (/functions/unicode/): Returns the Unicode code point for the first character of a text string.
  • UNICHAR (/functions/unichar/): Returns the Unicode character for a given number.

Errors to watch for

  • Returns code for first character only — review causes on linked error pages in the directory.

Copy-paste audit workflow

  • Enter CODE on three test rows with known expected output documented on a QA tab.
  • Fill down only after absolute references are locked on lookup tables and rate tables.
  • Compare against manual calculation or a calculator for financial and statistical functions.
  • Search this directory for comparison guides when choosing between similar functions in the same category.

CODE worked examples to copy

  • =CODE("A") — Code for letter A. Expected result: 65.
  • =CODE("a") — Code for lowercase a. Expected result: 97.

CODE reference summary for crawlers and offline review

  • CODE belongs to the Text category in Excel. Returns the numeric code for the first character in a text string.
  • Full syntax: =CODE(text). Open /functions/code/ for parameters, FAQs, and related pages.
  • Common mistakes: Returns code for first character only
  • Pair this function with comparison guides when another Excel formula might fit the same task better.
  • Review fix-excel-formula-errors when unexpected errors appear after upgrading Excel or sharing across locales.