- Excel Functions - Home
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- FIND Function
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- LEFT Function
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- PROPER Function
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- RIGHTB Function
- SEARCH Function
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- SUBSTITUTE Function
- T Function
- TEXT Function
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- VALUE Function
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- Date & Time Functions
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- DAY Function
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- NETWORKDAYS Function
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- NOW Function
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- WORKDAY Function
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- ODDFYIELD Function
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- ODDLYIELD Function
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- Lookup & Reference Functions
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- HLOOKUP Function
- HYPERLINK Function
- INDEX Function
- INDIRECT Function
- LOOKUP Function
- MATCH Function
- OFFSET Function
- ROW Function
- ROWS Function
- RTD Function
- TRANSPOSE Function
- VLOOKUP Function
- Statistical Functions
- Statistical Functions
- AVEDEV Function
- AVERAGE Function
- AVERAGEA Function
- AVERAGEIF Function
- AVERAGEIFS Function
- BETA.DIST Function
- BETA.INV Function
- BINOM.DIST Function
- BINOM.DIST.RANGE Function
- BINOM.INV Function
- CHISQ.DIST Function
- CHISQ.DIST.RT Function
- CHISQ.INV Function
- CHISQ.INV.RT Function
- CHISQ.TEST Function
- CONFIDENCE.NORM Function
- CONFIDENCE.T Function
- CORREL Function
- COUNT Function
- COUNTA Function
- COUNTBLANK Function
- COUNTIF Function
- COUNTIFS Function
- COVARIANCE.P Function
- COVARIANCE.S Function
- DEVSQ Function
- EXPON.DIST Function
- F.DIST Function
- F.DIST.RT Function
- F.INV Function
- F.INV.RT Function
- F.TEST Function
- FISHER Function
- FISHERINV Function
- FORECAST Function
- FORECAST.ETS Function
- FORECAST.ETS.CONFINT Function
- FORECAST.ETS.SEASONALITY Function
- FORECAST.ETS.STAT Function
- FORECAST.LINEAR Function
- FREQUENCY Function
- GAMMA Function
- GAMMA.DIST Function
- GAMMA.INV Function
- GAMMALN Function
- GAMMALN.PRECISE Function
- GAUSS Function
- GEOMEAN
- GROWTH
- HARMEAN
- HYPGEOM.DIST
- INTERCEPT Function
- KURT Function
- LARGE Function
- LINEST Function
- LOGEST Function
- LOGNORM.DIST Function
- LOGNORM.INV Function
- MAX Function
- MAXA Function
- MAXIFS Function
- MEDIAN Function
- MIN Function
- MINA Function
- MINIFS Function
- MODE.MULT Function
- MODE.SNGL Function
- NEGBINOM.DIST Function
- NORM.DIST Function
- NORM.INV Function
- NORM.S.DIST Function
- NORM.S.INV Function
- PEARSON Function
- PERCENTILE.EXC
- PERCENTILE.INC
- PERCENTRANK.EXC
- PERCENTRANK.INC
- PERMUT
- PERMUTATIONA
- PHI
- POISSON.DIST
- PROB
- QUARTILE.EXC
- QUARTILE.INC
- RANK.AVG
- RANK.EQ
- RSQ
- SKEW
- SKEW.P
- SLOPE
- SMALL
- STANDARDIZE
- STDEV.P
- STDEV.S
- STDEVA
- STDEVPA
- STEYX
- T.DIST
- T.DIST.2T
- T.DIST.RT
- T.INV
- T.INV.2T
- T.TEST
- TREND
- TRIMMEAN Function
- VAR.P Function
- VAR.S Function
- VARA Function
- VARPA Function
- WEIBULL.DIST Function
- Z.TEST Function
- Web Functions
- Web Functions
- ENCODEURL Function
- FILTERXML Function
- WEBSERVICE Function
Excel - INDIRECT Function
INDIRECT Function
The Excel INDIRECT function will fetch the actual value indirectly. It retrieves the cell reference that points to the actual value by passing the cell reference as a text string in its argument. It is categorized under the LOOKUP and REFERENCE functions in Excel.
If you enter the B1 cell reference in an Excel Formula, Excel understands that this points to the B1 cell. However, Excel does not understand the text string "B1" to be a reference. Hence, if your cell reference takes the form of a text string, you must use the INDIRECT function to convert this into an actual cell reference.
Compatibility
This Advanced Excel function is compatible with the following versions of MS Excel −
- Excel for Microsoft 365
- Excel for Microsoft 365 for Mac
- Excel for the web
- Excel 2024
- Excel 2024 for Mac
- Excel 2021
- Excel 2021 for Mac
- Excel 2019
- Excel 2016
- Excel 2013
- Excel 2010
- Excel 2007
Syntax
The syntax of the INDIRECT function is as follows −
=INDIRECT(ref_text, [a1])
Arguments
You can use the following arguments with the INDIRECT function −
| Argument | Description | Required / Optional |
|---|---|---|
| Ref_text | A cell reference contains either an A1-style reference or an R1C1-style reference, a cell reference as a text string. | Required |
| A1 |
A logical value representing the reference type specified in the ref_text argument. If a1 is TRUE or omitted, ref_text is to be assumed as an A1style reference. If a1 is FALSE, ref_text is to be assumed as an R1C1-style reference. |
Optional |
Points to Remember
- If the invalid reference is specified in the ref_text, then the INDIRECT function will retrieve the #REF! error.
- If the ref_text argument points to another workbook, then that workbook must be open. Otherwise, the INDIRECT function gives you the #REF! error.
- If ref_text refers to a cell range outside the row limit and column limit, then, in this case, the INDIRECT function will retrieve a #REF! error.
How to use the INDIRECT Function in Excel?
Step by steps instructions are given below −
- First, deliberate an Excel worksheet.
- Import the data from an external source or enter the sample datasets in a worksheet.
- Double-click on the desired cell, type the = sign, and enter the formula INDIRECT("cell reference").
- After that, hit the Enter.
Example of INDIRECT Function
Practice the following example to learn how the execution of the INDIRECT function works in Excel.
What does the INDIRECT Function do in Excel?
In this example, the INDIRECT function's argument specifies a cell reference that points to another cell reference containing the actual value.
Solution
Step 1 − Assume the sample dataset contains the sales production of different regions in the first three months. Double-click on the E9 cell and write the formula =INDIRECT(E8). Here, the E8 cell refers to the D5 cell.
Note − If you directly pass the D5 cell as an argument, the INDIRECT function returns the #REF! error.
Step 2 −After that, hit the Enter tab to obtain the resulting value.
Download Practice Sheet
You can download and use the sample data sheet to practice the INDIRECT function.
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