Summary

The Excel UNICODE function returns the Unicode number for the first character in a text string. For example, =UNICODE("A") returns 65, and =UNICODE("€") returns 8364.

UNICODE is the modern counterpart to CODE. It is useful when the text may contain symbols or characters outside the older character range, such as currency signs, mathematical symbols, or international letters.

Syntax

=UNICODE(text)

text is the string or cell reference you want to inspect. UNICODE reads the first character of that value and returns its Unicode number.

Arguments

• text - [Required] The text string or cell reference whose first character you want to identify.

UNICODE vs Other Functions

UNICODE and UNICHAR work together in the same way that CODE and CHAR work together. UNICODE gives you the number for a character, and UNICHAR turns that number back into the character.

Using UNICODE

UNICODE is useful when you need to confirm exactly which character appears in a cell. That matters when two symbols look similar but should not be treated as the same, or when imported data contains a special character that is affecting text logic.

It is also a practical partner for UNICHAR. Once you know the number for a symbol, you can reproduce it with UNICHAR in another formula.

• Use UNICODE to identify symbols outside the older CHAR and CODE range.
• Use UNICODE when imported text contains special symbols or international characters.
• Use UNICHAR with the returned code when you need to recreate the same character.

Example 1 - Getting the Code for a Currency Symbol

This example shows a common modern use case. UNICODE can identify a symbol such as the Euro sign by its code point.

=UNICODE("€") // 8364

Example 2 - Checking a Greek Letter

Greek letters and technical symbols are often beyond the older CODE range. UNICODE can still identify them directly.

=UNICODE("Ω") // 937

Example 3 - Identifying a Mathematical Symbol

UNICODE is also useful for mathematical and special symbols. This can help when a workbook contains symbols from web pages, PDFs, or copied documents.

=UNICODE("∑") // 8721

Example 4 - Reading the First Character from a Cell

UNICODE always checks the first character only. If the cell contains more than one character, the rest of the text is ignored unless you extract a different position first.

=UNICODE(A1)
// If A1 starts with "∑", the result is 8721

If you need to check a later character instead of the first one, combine UNICODE with MID. For example, =UNICODE(MID(A1,2,1)) checks the second character.

Conclusion Recap

• Summary: UNICODE returns the Unicode number for the first character in a text string.
• Syntax: =UNICODE(text).
• Key point: UNICODE is useful when the text may contain characters outside the older CODE range.
• Practical usage: Currency signs, Greek letters, mathematical symbols, and imported text diagnostics.
• Best pattern: Use UNICODE to identify the character, then UNICHAR to recreate it if needed.