Purpose
Return value
Syntax
=ISREF(value)- value - The value to check.
How to use
The ISREF function returns TRUE to test for a reference in a formula. The ISREF function takes one argument, value, to test. If value is a valid cell reference, range, or named range, ISREF returns TRUE. If value is not a reference, ISREF returns FALSE. ISREF does not evaluate the contents of a reference, just the reference itself.
Examples
ISREF returns TRUE when value is a reference and FALSE if not:
=ISREF(A1) // returns TRUE
=ISREF(A1:C1) // returns TRUE
=ISREF(Sheet1!A1) // returns TRUE
=ISREF("apple") // returns FALSE
=ISREF(100) // returns FALSE
=ISREF(ZZZ1) // returns FALSE
Some functions, like INDEX and OFFSET, can return a reference. As long as the reference is valid, ISREF returns TRUE:
=ISREF(INDEX(A:A,10)) // returns TRUE
=ISREF(OFFSET(A1,1,1)) // returns TRUE
To evaluate a reference as text (i.e. "A1"), use the INDIRECT function:
=ISREF(INDIRECT("A1")) // returns TRUE
=ISREF(INDIRECT("ZZZ1")) // returns FALSE
Notes
- Use the INDIRECT function with ISREF to evaluate a reference as text.
ISREF function examples
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Related functions
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ISERR Function
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ISERROR Function
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ISEVEN Function
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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.
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.
ISNA Function
The Excel ISNA function returns TRUE when a cell contains the #N/A error and FALSE for any other value, or any other error type. You can use the ISNA function with the IF function test for #N/A and display a friendly message if the error occurs.
ISNONTEXT Function
The Excel ISNONTEXT function returns TRUE when a cell contains any value except text. This includes numbers, dates, times, errors, and formulas that do not return text. ISNONTEXT also returns TRUE when a cell is empty.
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.
ISODD Function
The Excel ISODD function returns TRUE when a value is an odd number, and FALSE when a value is an even number. ISODD will return the #VALUE error if a value is not numeric.
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.
