In a Notion database, you can add a formula property that lets you run all kinds of calculations and functions based on other properties. You can use formulas to manipulate existing data and arrive at many other helpful values. 🔮

Formula terminology

The hardest thing about writing formulas is understanding all the terminology! Here are the most common words you'll see when using formulas in Notion and what they mean:

• Function: A relation from a set of inputs to a set of possible outputs where each input is related to exactly one output.
• Syntax: Refers to the order of letters and terms in your formula to return the right value.
• Argument: Refers to any input in a function, like a property.
• String: A value type, most often referring to text (i.e. a string of letters next to each other). Strings are always wrapped in quotation marks in formulas.
  • Strings are unique from other value types, such as numbers or dates.
  • A substring refers to a segment of a larger string. "No" is a substring of "Notion".
• Boolean: A boolean is either true or false.
• Concatenate: Combines two strings together. Example: concat("add", "text") would yield "addtext".

Terminology in action

Here's an example to tie all of the above together: concat("add", "text")

• concat is the function. It applies a certain calculation or action to the inputs contained in its parentheses.
• "add" and "text" are arguments in that function. Each argument is text (otherwise known as a string).

Functions can use a variety of different arguments, such as checkboxes (also known as booleans), numbers or dates.

Function syntax requires strings to be wrapped in quotes and its arguments to be contained within parentheses.

Writing a formula

• First, in your database, add a new property, give it a name and choose Formula from the Property type menu.