IFS / SWITCH — Excel guide
The flat alternatives to nested-IF pyramids (Excel 2019+): IFS for a list of different tests, SWITCH for matching one expression against exact values.
IFS
First true condition wins — many tests without nesting.
- No built-in else — end with the pair TRUE, "fallback" or an unmatched IFS returns #N/A.
- With >= tests, order thresholds from HIGHEST down; a low test first swallows everything.
- Conditions can test different cells — that's IFS's edge over SWITCH.
SWITCH
Compare ONE expression against a list of exact values.
- The odd trailing argument is the default; without it, no match = #N/A.
- Exact equality only — range tests like >=90 need IFS.
- The expression is computed once: SWITCH(MOD(A2,3), …) beats repeating MOD in three IFs.