ISERR
The ISERR function is used in Excel to check if a value is an error other than #N/A. It returns TRUE if the value is any error other than #N/A, and FALSE if it is #N/A or not an error.
Example explanation
The ISERR function checks if a value is an error, except for #N/A, and returns TRUE if it is. Cells C2 to C5 use ISERR to determine if the calculations in column B result in an error.
Syntax 🔗
=ISERR(value)
value | The value you want to check for an error other than #N/A. |
About ISERR 🔗
When you're dealing with data in Excel and need to determine if a cell contains an error (excluding #N/A), the ISERR function comes to your rescue. It aids in assessing whether a particular value is an error different from #N/A, allowing for effective error handling and data validation within your spreadsheets. This function is particularly useful in scenarios where you have formulas that may result in various error types, and you need to distinguish them systematically for further evaluation or treatment.
Examples 🔗
Suppose cell A1 contains a formula that may result in different types of errors. You want to check if the result is any error other than #N/A. The ISERR formula would be entered in another cell, such as B1, as follows: =ISERR(A1). This will return TRUE if the value in cell A1 is any error other than #N/A, and FALSE if it is #N/A or not an error.
If you want to test a specific value directly, you can use the ISERR function with that value. For example, =ISERR(1/0) will return TRUE because dividing by zero results in a #DIV/0! error, which ISERR recognizes as an error other than #N/A.
Notes 🔗
ISERR is designed to distinguish errors other than #N/A specifically. Remember that #N/A is treated separately and will not be flagged as an error by this function. Ensure that you consider the nature of the errors you expect in your data when utilizing ISERR.
Questions 🔗
If the value being checked is #N/A, the ISERR function will return FALSE. #N/A is not considered an error by ISERR and is treated as a distinct case.
How can I use the ISERR function in combination with other functions?You can incorporate the ISERR function within logical functions like IF to create dynamic error-handling mechanisms. For example, you can use =IF(ISERR(A1), "Error Found", "No Error") to display custom messages based on whether the value in cell A1 is an error.
Can ISERR be used to check for a specific type of error, such as #DIV/0!?No, ISERR is intended to assess whether a value is any error other than #N/A in a generic sense. If you need to target specific error types like #DIV/0!, you may consider using other IS functions like ISERROR or ISDIV0.