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ISERROR

The ISERROR formula is used to check if a value contains an error. This formula returns TRUE if the value is an error, and FALSE if it is not. This function is most commonly used in combination with other formulas that can return errors, to ensure that the resulting value is valid.

Usage

Use the ISERROR formula with the syntax shown below, it has 1 required parameter:

=ISERROR(value)
Parameters:
  1. value (required):
    The value to be checked for errors. This can be a reference to a cell containing a formula or a value, or a formula itself.

Examples

Here are a few example use cases that explain how to use the ISERROR formula in Google Sheets.

Checking for errors in formulas

The ISERROR formula can be used to check if a formula contains an error, such as a #DIV/0! error. This can be useful when building more complex formulas that rely on the outputs of other formulas.

Validating user input

When creating a spreadsheet that will be used by others, it can be useful to validate the input they provide. The ISERROR formula can be used to check if user input contains an error, and prompt the user to correct their input if necessary.

Filtering out errors from data sets

When working with large data sets, it is common to encounter errors in the data. The ISERROR formula can be used to filter out rows or columns containing errors, ensuring that only valid data is included in your analysis.

Common Mistakes

ISERROR not working? Here are some common mistakes people make when using the ISERROR Google Sheets Formula:

Incorrect argument type

The value argument must be a cell reference or a formula that returns a value. Make sure the value argument is correct.

Missing value argument

The ISERROR formula requires a value argument. Make sure the value argument is not empty.

Incorrect function name

Make sure you have spelled the function name correctly. The correct function name is ISERROR, all in uppercase.

Related Formulas

The following functions are similar to ISERROR or are often used with it in a formula:

  • IFERROR

    The IFERROR formula is used to check whether a specified value results in an error or not. If the value results in an error, then it returns a user-specified value instead of the error. This function is commonly used to prevent errors from breaking a formula or to replace error messages with custom messages.

  • ISNA

    The ISNA function checks whether a value is #N/A. If the value is #N/A, the function returns TRUE; otherwise, it returns FALSE. This function is commonly used in combination with other functions that may return #N/A as a result.

  • ISTEXT

    The ISTEXT function checks whether the value provided is a text string or not. It returns TRUE if the value is text and FALSE if it is any other data type. This function is commonly used when working with data sets that contain text and non-text values.

  • ISNUMBER

    The ISNUMBER formula is used to check if a given value is a number. It returns TRUE if the value is a number and FALSE if it is not. This formula is commonly used in data cleaning and validation to identify and remove non-numeric values or to ensure that a cell only contains a number.

Learn More

You can learn more about the ISERROR Google Sheets function on Google Support.