Definition:
Related Tutorial: Using Cell References in Excel Formulas
In Excel, a cell reference identifies the location a cell or group of cells in the spreadsheet. Sometimes referred to as a cell address, a cell reference consists of the column letter and row number that intersect at the cell's location. Note that when listing a cell reference, the column letter is always listed first.
- Cell references are used in formulas, functions, charts, and other Excel commands.
- While references often refer to individual cells such as A1, B38, or Z345, they can also refer to a group or range of cells.
- Ranges are identified by the cell references of the cells in the upper left and lower right corners of the range.
- The two cell references used for a range are separated by a colon ( : ) which tells Excel to include all the cells between these start and end points.
- An example of a range of adjacent cells would be B5:D10
Also Known As: Cell Address
