Excel’s TYPE function is one of a group of “Information Functions” that can be used to find out information about a specific cell, worksheet or workbook.
The TYPE function's job is to give out information about the type of data, such as a number, text, or error value, located in a cell. It cannot, however, be used to determine whether a cell contains a formula. TYPE only determines the type of the displayed value, not if the value is generated by a function or formula.
The syntax for the TYPE function is:
= TYPE ( Value )
Value: Can be any type of data such as a number, text or array.
Value - Type of data
1 - Number
2 - Text
4 - Logical value
16 - Error value
64 - Array
Example Using Excel's TYPE Function:
For help with this example, see the image above.
- Type the word " Costs ", into cell D1.
- Click on cell E1 - the location where the results will be displayed.
- Click on the Formulas tab.
- Choose More Functions > Information from the ribbon to open the function drop down list.
- Click on TYPE in the list to bring up that function's dialog box.
- Click on the Value line in the dialog box.
- Click on cell D1 in the spreadsheet to enter the cell reference into the dialog box.
- Click OK.
- The number" 2 " should appear in cell E1 to indicate that the type of data in cell D1 is text.
- To get a different result, change the data in cell D1 to " #N/A " and press the ENTER key on the keyboard.
- The number" 16 " should appear in cell E1 to indicate that the new type of data in cell D1 is an error value.
- The complete function = TYPE ( Value ) appears in the formula bar above the worksheet when you click on cell E1.
