Summary
The Excel IFERROR function returns a custom result when a formula generates an error, and a standard result when no error is detected. IFERROR is an elegant way to trap and manage errors without using more complicated nested IF statements.
Purpose
Trap and handle errors
Return value
The value you specify for error conditions.
Syntax
=IFERROR (value, value_if_error)
Arguments
- value – The value, reference, or formula to check for an error.
- value_if_error – The value to return if an error is found.
Usage notes
Use the IFERROR function to trap and handle errors produced by other formulas or functions. IFERROR checks for the following errors: #N/A, #VALUE!, #REF!, #DIV/0!, #NUM!, #NAME?, or #NULL!.
For example, if A5 contains 10, B5 is blank, and C5 contains the formula =A5/B5, the following formula will trap the #DIV/0! error that results from dividing A5 by B5:
=IFERROR (A5/B5. “Please enter a value in B5”)
In this case, C5 will display the message “Please enter a value in B5” if B5 is blank or zero.
Notes:
- If value is empty, it is evaluated as an empty string (“”) and not an error.
- If value_if_error is supplied as an empty string (“”), no message is displayed when an error is detected.
- If IFERROR is entered as an array formula, it returns an array of results with one item for each cell in value.
