Logical Operators in Excel (AND, OR, NOT)
AND, OR, and NOT let a formula check more than one condition at once. AND returns TRUE only when every condition is true; OR returns TRUE when at least one is; NOT flips a TRUE/FALSE result. On their own they just return TRUE or FALSE — their real use is nested inside IF, where they decide which branch runs.
Worked example
=AND(B2>=60, C2<=100)TRUE only if B2 is 60 or more AND C2 is 100 or less
Swap AND for OR and it becomes TRUE if either condition holds, not necessarily both.
Comparison operators vs. logical operators
>, <, >=, <=, =, and <> compare two values and return TRUE or FALSE on their own — =B2>60 is a complete, valid formula. AND/OR/NOT are for combining several such comparisons into one TRUE/FALSE answer.
Where this actually gets used
Almost always inside IF: =IF(AND(B2>=60, C2="Submitted"), "Pass", "Fail"), or inside a conditional formatting formula rule, or inside a filter condition. Logical operators are rarely the final answer in a cell — they're the decision-making layer underneath one.
Practice this for real
Try the "AND & OR" exercises
Type the formula into a real spreadsheet and get instant feedback.