Operators are the lifeline of using Notion and simplifying our work experience. Any mathematical calculation or operation that is performed requires the use of Operators.
Operators help to operate calculations in between numbers and give us the final output.
In Notion, we have several types of operators that can be used in this no-code tool:
| if | Switches between two options based on another value. |
| add | Adds two numbers and returns their sum, or concatenates two strings. |
| subtract | Subtracts 2 numbers and returns their difference |
| multiply | Multiplies 2 numbers and returns their product |
| divide | Divides 2 numbers and return their quotient |
| pow | Returns base to the exponent power, that is, base exponent. |
| mod | Divides two numbers and returns their remainder. |
| unaryMinus | Negates a number. |
| unaryPlus | Converts its argument into a number. |
| not | Returns the logical NOT of its argument. |
| and | Returns the logical AND of its two arguments. |
| or | Returns the logical OR of its two arguments. |
| equal | Returns true if its arguments are equal, and false otherwise. |
| unequal | Returns false if its arguments are equal, and true otherwise. |
| larger | Returns true if the first argument is larger than the second. |
| largerEq | Returns true if the first argument is larger than or equal to the second. |
| smaller | Returns true if the first argument is smaller than the second. |
| smallerEq | Returns true if the first argument is smaller than or equal to the second. |
Let’s get started to understand operators in Notion.
1. if Operator
If operator can be used in any scenario where there is a condition to check if something is correct or not.
This is one of the most commonly used operators in Notion.
It will switch the value based on the condition being true or false.
In this example, we have used the if() operator to find if a number is greater than the other number.
As can be seen from the above example, 3 is greater than 2 and thus the formula represents the same.
We have used the following formula to find the answer:
if(prop(“No 2”) > prop(“No 1”), format(prop(“No 2″)) + ” is greater than ” + format(prop(“No 1”)), format(prop(“No 1″)) + ” is greater than ” + format(prop(“No 2”)))
2. add Operator
add operator is used to add 2 numbers to derive the sum or it can be used to concatenate and join 2 strings together as well.
In this example, we have used add to find the addition of No1 and No2.
Here’s the formula used for the same:
add(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
In the second instance, we used the add operator to join 2 strings together in the formula with First Name + Last Name.
Here’s the formula used for the same:
add(prop(“First Name”), prop(“Last Name”))
3. subtract Operator
Similar to add operator, subtract operator has its use as well.
It is used to subtract 2 numbers and find their difference.
Here’s how it’s used.
In this example, subtract operator is used to find the difference between No 1 and No 2.
Here’s the formula used for the same:
subtract(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”)).
We can also use the following formula to find the difference between 2 numbers:
prop(“No 1”) – prop(“No 2”)
4. multiply Operator
Multiply operators works in the same way as you have guessed.
Using the multiply operator you can multiply 2 numbers together and get the product. This uses the following formula as described below:
multiply(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
Another way of multiplying 2 numbers would be using the following formula.
prop(“No 1”) * prop(“No 2”)
5. divide Operator
The Divide operator is similar to the multiply operator and it helps to divide 2 numbers used in a formula.
Here we have used the divide operator to divide 2 numbers and found the value in the formula.
Here’s the formula used as follows:
divide(prop(“No 2”), prop(“No 1”))
6. pow Operator
Next up is the pow operator. This operator is used to find the power of a number (base) to its exponent.
In here, we have used 2 numbers inside the formula where No 1 is the Base and No 2 is the Exponent.
We have essentially used No 1 ^ No 2 to find the power of the number.
Here’s the formula used for the same:
pow(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
7. mod Operator
Mod operator is used to find the division of 2 numbers and return the remainder in the operation.
Here’s the formula used in the calculation.
mod(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
Using this formula, we have calculated to find the remainder of the operation.
8. unaryMinus Operator
This operator is used to find the negative of a number. This helps to find the negative of a number using the following formula:
unaryMinus(prop(“No 2”))
Another way to find the negative of a number is by putting the minus sign ahead of the number.
9. unaryPlus Operator
unaryPlus operator is used to convert the string to a number in Notion.
unaryPlus(prop(“No 2”))
This helps to convert the string to a number in Notion easily.
10. not Operator
Not operator is used to find the opposite of the argument provided inside the formula.
not prop(“Checkbox”)
Using this formula will give the opposite of the argument as provided in the formula.
As an example, if we provide the argument as True, it will give the output as False and vice-versa.
11. and Operator
And Operator is used to find the logical output considering 2 inputs in the formula.
In this example, we have 2 conditions given in the database as False and False. Using the and operator, we check if the conditions are both matching the False then the output will be false.
If both conditions are true, then the final output will be True.
and(prop(“Condition 1”), prop(“Condition 2”))
12. or Operator
Or operator is used to find either of the logical conditions such as True and False to find the output.
In this example, we have 2 conditions given in the database as True and False.
Once both conditions are checked, the final output is derives based on that.
This can come to be either True or False based on above condition.
In the final output, we are deriving either True or False based on either of the conditions given in the database.
Here’s the formula we have used here:
or(prop(“Condition 1”), prop(“Condition 2”))
13. equal Operator
Equal operator is used to check the conditions specified inside a formula and returns the result if both the conditions specified falls to be true.
In the above example, we have specified if both the conditions are true, then the output is true else the output is false.
Here’s the formula used for the above example:
equal(prop(“Condition 1”), prop(“Condition 2”))
14. unequal Operator
Unequal operator returns the opposite of the values if both conditions are specified as true.
The output will be false, if one of the conditions stated is false.
Here’s the formula used for the same:
unequal(prop(“Condition 1”), prop(“Condition 2”))
15. larger Operator
Larger operator returns the value as true if the first number specified is greater than the second.
In the above case, the first number is 150 which is greater than 100. Thus the final output shows it as true as 150>100.
The formula used in this case is as follows:
larger(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
16. largerEq Operator
In the above example, largerEq operator is used to find the true value if the first number is equal to or larger than the second number.
The formula used in the above case is as follows:
largerEq(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
17. smaller Operator
Smaller operator is used to return the value as true if the first number specified is smaller than the second.
In the above case, the first number is 130 which is smaller than 150. Thus the final output shows it as true as 130<150.
The formula used in this case is as follows:
smaller(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
18. smallerEq Operator
In the above example, smallerEq operator finds the true value based on the first number.
If the first number is equal to or smaller than the second number, then the output is based on that.
smallerEq operator finds the value as true, if the first number is equal to or smaller than second number.
The formula used in the above case is as follows:
smallerEq(prop(“No 1”), prop(“No 2”))
Related: What are Notion Formulas (Complete Beginner’s Guide)
Conclusion
Here we have reached the end of this post where we have discussed what are the operators in Notion.
To make Notion a really enjoyable and loving process, knowing about operators is key to using the no-code tool the right way.
As you use the same more and more, you will see an improvement with your efficiency, and you would find opportunities to explore and create powerful templates or tools for your use.