MS Excel: How to use the TYPE Function (WS)

This Excel tutorial explains how to use the Excel TYPE function with syntax and examples.

Description

The Microsoft Excel TYPE function returns the type of a value.

The TYPE function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as an Information Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the TYPE function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.

Syntax

The syntax for the TYPE function in Microsoft Excel is:

TYPE( value )

Parameters or Arguments

value

It can be text, numbers, logical values (TRUE or FALSE), arrays, or errors.

Value	Returned
Number	1
Text	2
Logical value (ie: TRUE or FALSE)	4
Error value	16
Array	64

Returns

The TYPE function returns a numeric value.

Applies To

• Excel for Office 365, Excel 2019, Excel 2016, Excel 2013, Excel 2011 for Mac, Excel 2010, Excel 2007, Excel 2003, Excel XP, Excel 2000

Type of Function

• Worksheet function (WS)

Example (as Worksheet Function)

Let's look at some Excel TYPE function examples and explore how to use the TYPE function as a worksheet function in Microsoft Excel:

Based on the Excel spreadsheet above, the following TYPE examples would return:

=TYPE(A2)
Result: 16

=TYPE(A3)
Result: 2

=TYPE(A4)
Result: 1

=TYPE("techonthenet.com")
Result: 2

=TYPE(87)
Result: 1