MS Excel: CODE function to return numeric code for the first character

The CODE function in Excel returns the numeric code for the first character in a text string. In most cases, this will be the ASCII code (on Windows systems) or Unicode code point (on some platforms) of that character. It is often used when analyzing, comparing, or transforming text data—especially in cases where characters must be interpreted programmatically.

If you’ve ever needed to check the underlying character value of a letter, symbol, or space—this is the function to use.

Syntax

=CODE(text)

Parameters:

• text (required): The text string from which to return the numeric code of the first character.

The CODE function takes a string (or a cell containing text) and returns the numeric value of its first character only.

For example:

• "A" returns 65

• "a" returns 97

• " " (space) returns 32

• "1" returns 49

Examples

Example 1: Get ASCII Code of a Character

=CODE("A")

Result: 65(because "A" corresponds to ASCII code 65)

Example 2: Get Code from Cell Text

If cell A1 contains the word Excel, then:

=CODE(A1)

Result: 69(because the first character, "E", corresponds to ASCII code 69)

Example 3: Compare Two Characters

=CODE("A") = CODE("a")

Result: FALSE(Because ASCII of "A" is 65, and "a" is 97)

Practical Use Cases

Scenario	Application
Sorting or classifying text	Use CODE to detect types of characters (e.g., uppercase, lowercase, special symbols)
Data validation	Detect unexpected characters in data (e.g., invalid leading symbols)
Character encoding tasks	Understand and manipulate character-based encoding logic
Debugging invisible characters	Combine with CLEAN or UNICODE to find problematic hidden characters

Summary

Feature	Detail
Function Name	CODE
Purpose	Returns ASCII (or Unicode) code of the first character in a string
Output	Integer
Common Use	Data validation, debugging, character manipulation

Notes and Limitations

• Only returns the code of the first character in the string.

• In Unicode-enabled environments, CODE may return Unicode points rather than standard ASCII, though this mainly affects Mac users.

• If the cell is empty or the input is a null string (""), Excel returns a #VALUE! error.

Related Functions

Function	Description
CHAR	Returns a character based on a numeric code
UNICODE	Returns the Unicode code point of a character
LEFT	Returns the first character(s) of a string
CLEAN	Removes non-printable characters from a string

Final Thoughts

The CODE function is a simple yet powerful tool for anyone working with text data in Excel. It is especially useful for character analysis, debugging encoding issues, and creating custom formulas involving text comparisons or validations.

Whether you're verifying input data or manipulating text strings at the byte level, CODE gives you the insight into the numeric foundation behind every character.