> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://books-gyansetu.gitbook.io/advanced-excel/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://books-gyansetu.gitbook.io/advanced-excel/array-functions.md).

# Array Functions

Array formulas are powerful formulas that enable you to perform complex calculations that often can’t be done with standard worksheet functions. They are also referred to as "Ctrl-Shift-Enter" or "CSE" formulas, because you need to press Ctrl+Shift+Enter to enter them.  You can use array formulas to do the seemingly impossible, such as

* Count the number of characters in a range of cells.
* Sum numbers that meet certain conditions, such as the lowest values in a range or numbers that fall between an upper and lower boundary.
* Sum every nth value in a range of values.

Excel provides two types of array formulas: Array formulas that perform several calculations to generate a single result and array formulas that calculate multiple results. Some worksheet functions return arrays of values, or require an array of values as an argument.

{% file src="/files/-LRwb3GUiVWJlkzzkJoZ" %}
Array Formula Example
{% endfile %}