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ERROR.TYPE
ERROR.TYPE maps each Excel error to a numeric code: 1=#NULL!, 2=#DIV/0!, 3=#VALUE!, 4=#REF!, 5=#NAME?, 6=#NUM!, 7=#N/A, and 8=#GETTING_DATA. It returns #N/A when the referenced cell contains no error. Use it to write targeted error-handling formulas that respond differently depending on the specific error type.
Excel
=IF(ISERROR(A2),ERROR.TYPE(A2),"OK")Google Sheets
=IF(ISERROR(A2),ERROR.TYPE(A2),"OK")Try it with your data
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How it works
- 1Reference the cell that may contain an error (e.g., =ERROR.TYPE(A2)).
- 2If the cell has an error, you receive a number 1–8 indicating which error type it is.
- 3Wrap in IF(ISERROR(...),...) so you only call ERROR.TYPE when an error is present, avoiding the #N/A it returns for non-error cells.
Need a version for your data?
Try: “Identify whether my formula errors are divide-by-zero or reference errors so I can fix each type”