The IFERROR function in Excel is a powerful tool used for error handling within formulas. This function allows users to manage errors by providing an alternative result when a formula encounters an issue, thus improving the robustness of data analysis and presentation. It is especially useful in large datasets where errors can compromise the integrity of results.
Syntax
IFERROR(value, value_if_error)
- value: The formula or expression to evaluate.
- value_if_error: The value to return if the formula results in an error.
Example #1
=IFERROR(A1/B1, "Division Error")
This will return ‘Division Error’ if cell B1 is 0. For example, if A1 is 10 and B1 is 0, the result will be ‘Division Error’.
Example #2
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(D1, A1:B10, 2, FALSE), "Not Found")
This function searches for the value in D1 within the range A1:B10. If not found, it returns ‘Not Found’. For example, if D1 is 15 and there is no 15 in A1:B10, it will show ‘Not Found’.
Example #3
=IFERROR(SUM(A1:A5), "Calculation Error")
Here, if the sum of A1:A5 generates an error, it will display ‘Calculation Error’. For example, if A1 has text and A2 to A5 are numbers, the result would be ‘Calculation Error’.