Searching for spreadsheet formulas involves locating specific functions or calculations within your spreadsheet application. This differs from standard text searches because you're targeting the formula syntax itself (like =SUM() or =VLOOKUP()), not the raw data displayed in cells or text notes. Spreadsheet software like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets provide dedicated search functions that can scan through the underlying formulas in your workbook cells.

For example, in Excel, you can use the 'Find' dialog (Ctrl+F), click 'Options', and select 'Formulas' within the 'Look in:' dropdown to search only the formula contents. Similarly, Google Sheets allows you to use its 'Find and replace' feature, clicking on the search box icon to restrict the search to 'Formulas'. This is crucial when auditing complex sheets, debugging errors, or finding all instances of a particular function like '=INDEX()'.

A key advantage is efficient troubleshooting and understanding spreadsheet logic. However, a limitation is that these searches primarily find exact syntax matches; they don't inherently interpret the formula's purpose or find cells with formulas producing a specific calculated result unless combined with filtering outputs. Future developments may involve AI-assisted formula search that understands intent or links errors directly to problematic formulas.