🌟 Introduction
The MAP function in Excel is one of the most powerful new dynamic
array functions introduced in Microsoft 365. It allows you to apply a custom LAMBDA
formula to each element (or multiple elements) in one or more arrays — meaning,
Excel processes every cell row-by-row without needing helper columns or
dragging formulas. In simple terms, MAP helps you repeat logic across multiple values
automatically, whether it’s calculations, text combination, or conditional
processing. It’s ideal for automating repetitive tasks, making your formulas
cleaner and smarter.
🧩 Syntax
=MAP(array1, [array2], ..., LAMBDA(parameter1, [parameter2], ...,
calculation))
🧠 Explanation:
- array1, array2, … → The ranges or lists you want to
process.
- LAMBDA(...) → The function that defines how each row
is processed.
- Inside the LAMBDA, you assign
names to each array (like x, y, etc.) and define the formula logic using
those names.
- The result “spills” automatically into the next cells.
🔹 Example 1: Multiply Each Price
by Quantity
Imagine you run an online store and have a list of products with
their prices and quantities sold. You need to calculate the total sales for
each product. Normally, you would type a separate formula in every row, which
takes extra time. By using the MAP function, you can instantly multiply the
price and quantity for all products at once in a single formula. This makes
your work faster and keeps your worksheet clean and efficient.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, C2:C6, LAMBDA(p, q, p*q))
Breakdown:
MAP takes two arrays — B2:B6 (price) and C2:C6 (quantity). Inside the LAMBDA, p
represents each price and q represents each quantity. The expression p*q
multiplies them row-by-row, returning total sales for each product
automatically.
🔹 Example 2: Add Tax Rate (10%)
to All Prices
A shop owner needs to add a 10% tax to all product prices. Instead
of creating a new column and manually calculating each value, the MAP function
can instantly apply the tax formula to every price in the list, making the
process faster and more efficient.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, LAMBDA(x, x*1.1))
Breakdown:
MAP processes each price (x) from the range B2:B6 and multiplies it by 1.1
(representing a 10% tax). The LAMBDA repeats this calculation for every price,
so the formula generates all results in one step.
🔹 Example 3: Combine Name and
Region Dynamically
Imagine you are preparing a company report and need to display each
employee’s name along with their working region in one clear list. Instead of
manually combining the two columns, you can use the MAP function to merge them
automatically. This allows Excel to create a neat and readable format where
each name is paired with its corresponding region. It’s especially useful when
dealing with long employee lists, saving time and reducing manual effort.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, LAMBDA(n, r, n & " - " & r))
Breakdown:
MAP uses two arrays: one for names (n) and one for regions (r). Inside the
LAMBDA, n & " - " & r combines the two values using a dash,
producing personalized labels for every employee.
🔹 Example 4: Calculate
Discounted Price Based on Condition
Imagine you manage a store that offers discounts on products. The
rule is simple — a 10% discount is applied only when the discount rate is more
than 5%. Instead of checking each product one by one, you can use the MAP
function to automatically test this rule for all items in your product list at
once. It saves time and ensures accuracy, especially when you have hundreds of
products to review.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, C2:C6, LAMBDA(p, d, IF(d>5, p*0.9, p)))
Breakdown:
MAP compares each discount (d) with 5. If d is greater, it applies p*0.9 (10%
off). Otherwise, the price remains the same. Excel performs this for all rows
simultaneously.
🔹 Example 5: Return Product
Status as Text
Imagine you’re managing a warehouse and need to quickly identify
which items are well-stocked and which are running low. Instead of checking
each item one by one, you can use the MAP function to automatically label every
product as “Available” if the quantity is above a certain limit or “Low Stock”
if it’s below that limit. This makes stock management faster and helps ensure
that you never run out of important items.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, LAMBDA(q, IF(q<5, "Low Stock",
"Available")))
Breakdown:
Each value in column B is checked by MAP. If it’s less than 5, Excel writes
“Low Stock.” Otherwise, “Available.” No need for manual IF formulas per row —
MAP handles all at once.
🔹 Example 6: Generate Review
Summary
Imagine you work in a company that collects customer feedback and
you want to create a quick summary that combines both the customer’s name and
their rating into one sentence. Instead of keeping them in separate columns,
you can use a formula to merge them neatly, like this: “Junaid gave a rating
of 4.” This helps in creating clear, readable summaries for reports or
dashboards, making it easier to review each customer’s feedback at a glance.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, LAMBDA(n, s, n & ": Rated " & s &
"/5"))
Breakdown:
MAP joins each customer name (n) with their score (s), forming sentences like
“Ahsan: Rated 5/5.” This creates professional-style feedback summaries in
seconds.
🔹 Example 7: Create Full Item
Code
Imagine you manage a product inventory where each item must have a
unique code that combines its category and serial number. Instead of typing
codes manually for each item, you can use the MAP function to automatically
create them for all products at once. This ensures consistency and saves time
when updating or adding new products.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, LAMBDA(id, cat, cat & "-" &
TEXT(id,"000")))
Breakdown:
MAP formats each ID as a 3-digit number using TEXT(id,"000"), then
joins it with the category code. The result is professional product codes like
“LTP-001.”
🔹 Example 8: Compare Actual vs
Target Performance
Imagine you’re managing a sales team and need to quickly see which
employees met their monthly targets and which ones didn’t. Instead of checking
each row manually, you can use the MAP function to compare sales and targets
for all employees at once. This single dynamic formula instantly shows “Achieved” or “Pending” for each
person, saving time and reducing errors.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, C2:C6, LAMBDA(a, t,
IF(a>=t,"Achieved","Pending")))
Breakdown:
MAP evaluates whether each Actual is greater than or equal to Target. Based on
that, it returns “Achieved” or “Pending” for every employee automatically.
🔹 Example 9: Calculate Profit
Margin for Each Record
Imagine you’re a finance analyst working with a list of
transactions containing revenue and cost for each sale. Instead of calculating
the profit margin for every row manually, you can use the MAP function to
automatically compute it for all transactions at once.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, LAMBDA(r,c, (r-c)/r))
Breakdown:
For each row, MAP calculates (Revenue - Cost) / Revenue. The result gives the
profit margin percentage per item automatically without dragging the formula
down.
🔹 Example 10: Return Top
Performer Tag
Imagine you are part of an HR team that needs to identify the top
performer from the employee performance scores. Instead of manually checking
each score, you can use the MAP function to automatically tag the highest one.
This formula compares every score with the maximum score in the list and labels
it as “Top”.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, LAMBDA(x, IF(x=MAX(B2:B6),"🏆 Top","")))
Breakdown:
MAP checks each score (x) and compares it with the highest score using MAX.
When it matches, it adds the 🏆 symbol beside the name.
🔹 Example 11: Adjust Ratings by
Region Weight
Imagine you’re analyzing performance scores from different regions,
and each region has a specific weight based on its importance. Instead of
calculating each region’s weighted score manually, you can use the MAP function
to apply the formula automatically to every record.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, LAMBDA(r,w, r*w))
Breakdown:
Each rating (r) is multiplied by its corresponding weight (w). MAP runs this
calculation row-by-row, making regional adjustments automatically.
🔹 Example 12: Merge Three
Columns into a Sentence
Imagine you are a sales manager who wants to automatically generate
clear summary sentences from your sales data. For example, instead of manually
typing sentences like “Bilal sold 25 units of Mouse” for each salesperson, you
can use one simple formula to do it all at once.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, B2:B6, C2:C6, LAMBDA(n,p,s,n & " sold " & s &
" units of " & p))
Breakdown:
MAP reads name (n), product (p), and units (s) from three columns. It combines
them into a sentence using concatenation symbols (&), generating a clear
report summary.
🔹 Example 13: Add Row Number
Dynamically
Imagine you’re preparing a report that lists employee names or
project tasks, and you need each item to have a number before it. Instead of
typing numbers manually, you can use the MAP and SEQUENCE functions together to
create automatic numbering that updates when the list expands.
Formula:
=MAP(SEQUENCE(ROWS(A2:A6)), A2:A6, LAMBDA(i, x, i & ". " &
x))
Breakdown:
The SEQUENCE function produces numbers from 1 to 5, which MAP pairs with each
name (x). The result is an automatically numbered list that updates
dynamically.
🔹 Example 14: Find Length of
Each Text Entry
Imagine you’re a content editor managing a list of product names
for a website and need to ensure each name fits within a specific character
limit for design consistency. Instead of checking each one manually, you can
use the MAP function to calculate the character length of every product name
instantly.
Formula:
=MAP(A2:A6, LAMBDA(x, LEN(x)))
Breakdown:
MAP processes each word (x) in the range and returns the count of characters
using the LEN function. This helps in analyzing text sizes efficiently.
🔹 Example 15: Create Conditional
Price Adjustment
Imagine you manage a retail shop and need to adjust product prices
automatically. You want to increase prices by 5% if they are below 1000, and decrease
by 5% if they are above 1000. Instead of checking each price manually, you can
automate it using the MAP function.
Formula:
=MAP(B2:B6, LAMBDA(x, IF(x>1000, x*0.95, x*1.05)))
Breakdown:
MAP checks whether each price (x) exceeds 1000. If yes, it applies a 5%
discount. If not, it adds 5%. The function updates every row simultaneously
without manual entry.
Conclusion
The MAP function transforms the way Excel handles repetitive
calculations. With it, you can perform custom operations across multiple rows
using a single, flexible LAMBDA formula. Whether for sales, HR, finance, or
text processing — MAP automates it elegantly. Once you learn to pair MAP with
functions like SEQUENCE, IF, TEXT, and LEN, you unlock a new level of
efficiency and creativity in Excel .
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