The ISNUMBER function in Google Sheets is a powerful tool used to assess whether a given input is of numeric type. This function returns a boolean value, indicating if the input is indeed a number, which can be particularly useful for data validation and logical operations within spreadsheets.

Syntax

ISNUMBER(value)

• value: The input you want to test, which can be a cell reference, a number, or a formula that returns a value.

Example #1

=ISNUMBER(A1)

This checks if the value in cell A1 is a number. For example, if A1 contains ‘5’, the result will be TRUE.

Example #2

=ISNUMBER("Hello")

This examines the text “Hello” to see if it’s a numeric value. Since it is not, the result will be FALSE.

Example #3

=ISNUMBER(SUM(B1:B5))

In this case, it checks if the result of summing the range B1 to B5 is a number. If, for instance, B1 to B5 sums to 15, the output will be TRUE.

Error handling

• VALUE!: This error occurs if the input provided is not a valid reference or function with an unsupported type.
• REF!: This happens when the referenced cell is deleted or is invalid, leading to an error in the formula.
• NAME?: This error indicates that the function name is misspelled or not recognized within the spreadsheet environment.

Conclusion

In summary, the ISNUMBER function is a straightforward yet effective tool for validating numeric entries within Google Sheets. By determining whether a value is a number, it enhances data integrity and supports the creation of more dynamic and reliable spreadsheets. Understanding how to leverage this function can significantly streamline your data analysis processes.