This article describes the formula syntax and usage of the TYPE function (function: A prewritten formula that takes a value or values, performs an operation, and returns a value or values. Use functions to simplify and shorten formulas on a worksheet, especially those that perform lengthy or complex calculations.) in Microsoft Excel.
Description
Returns the type of value. Use TYPE when the behavior of another function depends on the type of value in a particular cell.
Syntax
TYPE(value)
The TYPE function syntax has the following arguments (argument: A value that provides information to an action, an event, a method, a property, a function, or a procedure.):
- Value Required. Can be any Microsoft Excel value, such as a number, text, logical value, and so on.
Remarks
- TYPE is most useful when you are using functions that can accept different types of data, such as ARGUMENT and INPUT. Use TYPE to find out what type of data is returned by a function or formula.
- You cannot use TYPE to determine whether a cell contains a formula. TYPE only determines the type of the resulting, or displayed, value. If value is a cell reference to a cell that contains a formula, TYPE returns the type of the formula's resulting value.
Example
The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.
How do I copy an example?
- Select the example in this article. If you are copying the example in Excel Web App, copy and paste one cell at a time.Important Do not select the row or column headers.
Selecting an example from Help
- Press CTRL+C.
- Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
- In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V. If you are working in Excel Web App, repeat copying and pasting for each cell in the example.
Important For the example to work properly, you must paste it into cell A1 of the worksheet.
- To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas button.
After you copy the example to a blank worksheet, you can adapt it to suit your needs.
|
|
| A |
B |
| Data |
|
| Smith |
|
| Formula |
Description (Result) |
| =TYPE(A2) |
Checks the type of the value above (2) |
| =TYPE("Mr. "&A2) |
Checks the type of "Mr. Smith" (2) |
| =TYPE(2+A2) |
Checks the type of the formula, which returns the error #VALUE! (16) |
| =TYPE({1,2;3,4}) |
Checks the type of an array constant (64) |
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