The ISNUMBER function in Excel is used to check whether a given value is a number. It returns TRUE if the value is a number and FALSE if it is not. Here’s how to use the ISNUMBER function:
Syntax
ISNUMBER(value)
- value: This is the only argument, and it is the value or cell reference you want to test.
Steps to Use ISNUMBER
- Select the Cell: Click on the cell where you want the result (TRUE or FALSE) to appear.
- Enter the Formula: Type `=ISNUMBER(` followed by the value or reference to the cell you want to check. For example:
- To check if the value in cell A1 is a number, the formula would be: `=ISNUMBER(A1)`
- To check a hardcoded value: `=ISNUMBER(123)` would return TRUE.
- Close Parenthesis: Complete the formula with a closing parenthesis `)`.
- Press Enter: Hit the Enter key to see the result.
Example Use Cases
=IF(ISNUMBER(A1), "Number", "Not a Number")
- Checking if a Cell Contains a Number: Suppose you have various inputs in a column, some numeric and some text, and you want to identify which are numbers.
- Combining with IF Function: You can use ISNUMBER with IF to create conditional formulas. For instance, in cell B1 you can use:
This formula will return “Number” if A1 contains a number, and “Not a Number” otherwise.
Important Notes
- ISNUMBER only tests whether the data is numeric; it does not check for data types like date or time, even though these may be represented numerically in Excel.
- ISNUMBER returns TRUE for numbers in any format, including decimals, negatives, dates, or times.
Using ISNUMBER effectively allows you to automate the identification and handling of numeric data in your Excel spreadsheets.
Unlock Your Potential
Excel
Access
Power BI
