Function note

Over an array, TEXTSPLIT and REGEXEXTRACT keep only the first piece of each element

FUNC.REGEXEXTRACT · FUNC.TEXTSPLIT

FN-TEXTSPLIT-002: Over an array, TEXTSPLIT and REGEXEXTRACT keep only the first piece of each element

Quirk · measured · recorded 2026-11-04

When TEXTSPLIT's text is an array, even a 1 by 1 array, the call lifts over the elements and each returns only its first piece. MAP over the same lambda gives #CALC!, while BYROW gives the first pieces. REGEXEXTRACT lifted over return_mode does the same, and mode 2 on a pattern with no capture group gives #VALUE!.

Call and input routeInputsExcelCorrect valueRecorded in
=TEXTSPLIT({"a,b,c","d,e"},",")
formula-literal		As typed{"a","d"}—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=TEXTSPLIT({"a,b"},",")
formula-literal		As typeda—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=REGEXEXTRACT("a12b34","[0-9]+",{0,1,2})
formula-literal		As typed{"12","12",#VALUE!}—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=MAP({"a,b","c,d"},LAMBDA(txt,TEXTSPLIT(txt,",")))
formula-literal		As typed#CALC!—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA
=BYROW({"a,b";"c,d"},LAMBDA(txt,TEXTSPLIT(txt,",")))
formula-literal		As typed{"a";"c"}—Excel 16.0.20527.20088 Current Channel, Windows 64-bit (NT 10.0.26200), x86-64, AMD Ryzen 7 4800H, en-ZA

Basis: 22 recorded TEXTSPLIT and REGEXEXTRACT readings, questions 049 to 093.

Evidence and capture sources

Machine-readable note records