The ISFORMULA function in Google Sheets is a useful tool designed to determine if a specific cell contains a formula. This function is particularly helpful in auditing spreadsheets where you want to confirm that certain cells are not just static values but are indeed using dynamic formulas to calculate their content.

Syntax

ISFORMULA(reference)

• reference: The cell reference you want to check for a formula presence. This can be a single cell or a range of cells.

Example #1

ISFORMULA(A1)

This function checks if cell A1 contains a formula. For example, if A1 has the value “=SUM(B1:B5)”, the result will be TRUE.

Example #2

ISFORMULA(B2)

Here, this function evaluates cell B2. If B2 holds the numeric value “5” without a formula, the output will be FALSE.

Example #3

ISFORMULA(C3:D4)

This checks the range C3 to D4. If any cell within this range includes a formula, the result will be TRUE for those cells that contain formulas and FALSE for those that do not.

Error handling

• REF!: This error occurs when the reference is invalid, often due to a deleted or unrecognized cell.
• VALUE!: This error may occur if the reference provided is not a single cell or a valid range, leading to confusion in function execution.

Conclusion

In summary, the ISFORMULA function is an invaluable asset for users seeking to differentiate between static values and dynamically calculated data in Google Sheets. By leveraging this function, users can enhance the integrity and transparency of their spreadsheets, making it easier to manage complex calculations and ensure accuracy throughout their data management tasks.