The ISNUMBER function
TRUE if the cell contains a real number (or a date). Two uses: spotting fake numbers, and wrapping SEARCH.
Syntax
=ISNUMBER(value)
In a French Excel: =ESTNUM(valeur).
Arguments
- value: the cell or formula to test.
An example
=ISNUMBER(SEARCH("urgent",A2))
TRUE if A2 contains "urgent": SEARCH returns a position (a number) or an error.
Pitfalls
- A number stored as text returns FALSE: that is what lets you spot them.
- An empty cell returns FALSE.
Going further
- SEARCH.
- Column profile: counts the numbers stored as text in each column.
Frequently asked questions
- And to test an empty cell?
=ISBLANK(A2); careful, a formula returning "" is not blank for ISBLANK.