The COLUMNS function in Google Sheets is a valuable tool designed to determine the total number of columns present in a specified range or array. This functionality is particularly useful in data analysis and organization, allowing users to quickly assess the structure of their datasets.
Syntax
COLUMNS(array)
- array: The range or array from which you want to count the columns.
Example #1
COLUMNS(A1:C3)
This function counts the columns in the range A1 to C3. The result would be 3 since there are three columns: A, B, and C.
Example #2
COLUMNS(D5:D10)
This function evaluates the range D5 to D10 for column count. The result would be 1 because the range consists of only one column (D).
Example #3
COLUMNS(B2:F10)
For this function, it counts the number of columns from B2 to F10. The result would give 5, representing the columns B, C, D, E, and F.
Error handling
- VALUE!: This error occurs if the ‘array’ parameter is not a valid reference to a range or array.
- REF!: This indicates that the specified range does not exist, possibly due to deletion or incorrect reference.
- N/A: Indicates that there is no available data within the specified range to perform the count.