Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=TYPE(value)- value - The value to check the type of.
How to use
The TYPE function returns a numeric code representing "type" in 5 categories: number = 1, text = 2, logical = 4, error = 16, and array = 64. The TYPE function takes one argument, value, which can be a reference, a formula, or a hardcoded value. The table below shows the possible type codes returned from TYPE and the meaning of each:
| Type code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1 | Number |
| 2 | Text |
| 4 | Logical value |
| 16 | Error value |
| 64 | Array |
| 128 | Compound data |
Examples
The TYPE function returns a numeric code:
=TYPE(100) // returns 1 for numbers
=TYPE("apple") // returns 2 for text
=TYPE(TRUE) // returns 4 for logicals
TYPE returns 16 for errors:
=TYPE(3/0) // returns 16
=TYPE(NA()) // returns 16
If TYPE is given an array constant, or a range, the result is 64:
=TYPE({1;2;3}) // returns 64
=TYPE(A1:C1 // returns 64
TYPE returns 128 for compound data, like LAMBDA functions:
=TYPE(LAMBDA(x,x*x)) // returns 128
Notes
- You can't use TYPE to test for a formula, because TYPE evaluates the result.
- Excel dates and times are numeric values, and therefore return 1.
Related functions
ISNUMBER Function
The Excel ISNUMBER function returns TRUE when a cell contains a number, and FALSE if not. You can use ISNUMBER to check that a cell contains a numeric value, or that the result of another function is a number.
ISTEXT Function
The Excel ISTEXT function returns TRUE when a cell contains a text value, and FALSE if the cell contains any other value. You can use the ISTEXT function to check if a cell contains a text value, or a numeric value entered as text.
ISERROR Function
The Excel ISERROR function returns TRUE for any error type excel generates, including #N/A, #VALUE!, #REF!, #DIV/0!, #NUM!, #NAME?, or #NULL! You can use ISERROR together with the IF function to test for errors and display a custom message, or run a different calculation when an error occurs....
ISFORMULA Function
The Excel ISFORMULA function returns TRUE if a cell contains a formula, and FALSE if not. When a cell contains a formula ISFORMULA will return TRUE regardless of the formula's output or error conditions.
ISREF Function
The Excel ISREF returns TRUE when a cell contains a reference and FALSE if not. You can use the ISREF function to check for a reference in a formula.
ISLOGICAL Function
The Excel ISLOGICAL function returns TRUE when a cell contains the logical values TRUE or FALSE, and returns FALSE for cells that contain any other value, including empty cells.
