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ISREF

The ISREF function checks if the value is a cell reference.

Returns TRUE if it is and FALSE if not.

This function can be useful for checking whether a cell contains a valid reference and for processing errors that occur when linked ranges are deleted or changed.

Syntax​

ISREF(value)

ArgumentDescriptionPermitted values
valueValue that is checked for being a referenceAny value (number, text, and so forth)

Examples of use​

Checking the value in a cell

=ISREF(A1)

Result: TRUE, because the argument contains a reference to a cell.

Checking the range reference

=ISREF(B1:B10)

Result: TRUE, since the range is a reference.

Checking the text value

=ISREF("Text")

In this case, the function will return FALSE, since the value “Text” is not a reference.

Notes​

  • The ISREF function does not check whether the reference is valid (for example, if the reference points to a deleted cell), but simply indicates whether the argument is a reference.
  • If the argument is a valid reference enclosed in quotation marks (“A3”), the function returns FALSE .