Google Sheets, a powerful online spreadsheet tool, offers countless features that allow you to manipulate and manage your data efficiently. One of these functionalities includes the ability to join two columns. In this blog post, we’ll break down the step-by-step process to join two columns in Google Sheets.
What does it mean to ‘join’ two columns?
When we talk about ‘joining’ two columns in Google Sheets, we refer to the process of combining the content of two different columns into a single one. This can be particularly helpful when you need to merge data from separate columns without losing any information.
Joining columns in Google Sheets
Google Sheets utilizes a function called CONCATENATE to join two or more cells. Here’s how you can use this function:
Step 1: Open your Google Sheet
Launch the Google Sheets document that contains the two columns you want to join.
Step 2: Click on the cell where you want the joined data to appear
Choose the cell where you want the merger of the two columns’ data to appear. This cell is usually in a completely different column.
Step 3: Input the CONCATENATE formula
Type the following formula into the cell: =CONCATENATE(A1, ” “, B1). This formula combines the contents of cells A1 and B1.
=CONCATENATE(A1, " ", B1)
Note: The ” ” in the formula is the delimiter which adds a space between the cell contents. If you don’t want any space or you want something else, like a comma, replace the space between the quotes with your desired delimiter.
Step 4: Press Enter
Press the Enter key on your keyboard to apply the formula. The contents of the two cells will now be combined in your chosen cell.
Step 5: Drag the formula down
If you want to apply the same formula to other cells in the column, click on the cell with the formula, then hover your cursor to the small square (fill handle) at the lower right corner of the cell. Click and drag it down to copy the formula to other cells.
Joining Columns using ARRAYFORMULA
Another method of joining columns in Google Sheets is by using the ARRAYFORMULA function. This function is used when you want to join an entire column (or row) of data into one cell. Here’s how you can use ARRAYFORMULA:
=ARRAYFORMULA(CONCATENATE(A2:A&" "&B2:B))
This formula will join all data in columns A and B with a space as the delimiter.
Conclusion
Joining columns in Google Sheets is a simple yet powerful way to merge data from different columns. Whether you’re using the CONCATENATE function for single cells or the ARRAYFORMULA for entire columns, merging column data in Google Sheets can be done in a few simple steps. Hopefully, this blog post has provided you with useful insights on how to perform these operations.
