Excel CONCATENATE Function (Join Text — Classic) – Examples & Practice
Practice the Excel CONCATENATE function online with an interactive grid, instant feedback, and clear formula help.
Instruction
Join text in A2 and B2 into one full name with a space between them.
Formula Syntax
=CONCATENATE(text1, [text2], ...)
- text1: First text item to join.
- [text2]: Optional additional text items.
- ...: Up to 255 items in classic limits.
What it does
CONCATENATE joins text items into one continuous string. It is the classic Excel approach before CONCAT and TEXTJOIN became common.
Excel CONCATENATE Function Examples
Full name
=CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)
Joins first and last name with a space.
Three-part key for export
=CONCATENATE(A2, "-", B2, "-", C2)
Builds region-store-sku style keys by inserting hyphens between three cells.
Label with static prefix
=CONCATENATE("ID-", TEXT(B2,"00000"))
Prefixes a human-readable token and formats the numeric piece with leading zeros.
text-cleanup.xlsx
| A | B | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Raw Text | Helper |
| 2 | ACME Corporation | ACME |
| 3 | Invoice-2026-0001 | 2026 |
| 4 | VIP_CLIENT | VIP |
| 5 | John Doe | Doe |
| 6 | Product Name | Product |
| 7 | Output |
Input Formula
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Tips
- Prefer CONCAT or TEXTJOIN for new models when possible.
- Use TEXT on dates before concatenation.
- Keep delimiter rules consistent across exports.
CONCATENATE Function Use Cases
- Build display labels from split columns
- Create composite keys for matching
- Format simple messages for export
- Legacy workbook maintenance
- Teaching text fundamentals before TEXTJOIN
Common mistakes - CONCATENATE function not working
- Forgetting delimiters between parts
- Using CONCATENATE for entire ranges when CONCAT/TEXTJOIN is better
- Creating overly long formulas with many commas
- Mixing numbers and dates without TEXT formatting
- Assuming CONCATENATE trims spaces automatically
FAQ
Is CONCATENATE deprecated?
Microsoft recommends CONCAT and TEXTJOIN for new workbooks, but CONCATENATE still works in many environments.
CONCATENATE vs CONCAT?
CONCAT can take ranges; CONCATENATE lists individual pieces with commas.
How do I add a space?
Include a quoted space as an argument, for example CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2).
Does CONCATENATE coerce numbers to text?
Yes, pieces become text in the combined result.
Can I join many cells?
Yes, but TEXTJOIN is often cleaner for delimiters across many cells.
Comparison
| Function | Typical use |
|---|---|
| CONCATENATE | Classic piece-by-piece join |
| CONCAT | Range-friendly joining |
| TEXTJOIN | Delimiter across many cells |
Example
=CONCATENATE(A2, " ", B2)
Advanced examples
CONCATENATE + TEXT for dates
Wrap date pieces with TEXT so the combined string looks consistent:
=CONCATENATE(TEXT(A2,"yyyy-mm-dd"), " | ", B2)