ERROR.TYPE function

The Excel ERROR.TYPE function is a handy tool for identifying and categorizing errors in your Excel spreadsheets. It helps you quickly determine the type of error in a cell, making it easier to troubleshoot and correct issues in your data.

Syntax

ERROR.TYPE(error_value)

Arguments

error_valueThe value or reference to a cell containing an error that you want to identify. This is a required argument.

How to use

The ERROR.TYPE function is straightforward to use. Simply provide the error value as an argument, and it will return a corresponding error type. Here are some examples to illustrate its usage:

Example 1: Suppose you have a cell (A1) with a #DIV/0! error, and you want to determine its error type. Use the following formula in another cell:

This formula will return 2, indicating that the error type is #DIV/0!.

Example 2: Let’s say you encounter a #VALUE! error in cell B2. To find its error type, use the formula:

The result will be 3, which signifies that the error type is #VALUE!.

Example 3 (Optional): In some cases, you might want to handle optional errors or values. If you’re not sure if a cell contains an error, you can use an IFERROR function in combination with ERROR.TYPE:

This formula will first check if there is an error in cell C3. If an error is present, it will return the corresponding error type; otherwise, it will display “No error found.”

By using the ERROR.TYPE function, you can quickly identify and address errors in your Excel worksheets, making your data analysis and reporting more efficient.

Tomasz Decker is an Excel specialist, skilled in data analysis and financial modeling.