Excel Duplicate Detection: From Built-in Tools to Programmatic Solutions

Duplicate detection in Excel bridges the gap between spreadsheet users and developers, offering solutions that scale from quick UI tricks to automated approaches. Rather than relying on inadequate built-in tools alone, teams can choose methods that match their specific needs—whether identifying single-column duplicates, full-row matches, or composite keys. The subtle gotchas (trailing spaces, case sensitivity, type mismatches) reveal why effective duplicate detection requires more sophistication than it initially appears.