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← The library

Information function

ISNA

Returns TRUE only for #N/A.

CommonDifficulty 1050 · CapableUsage rank #158 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

TRUE only for #N/A, the error lookups return when nothing matches.

The shape of it

Syntax
=ISNA(value)

Worked examples

  • The #N/A error

    =ISNA(NA()) → TRUE

    #N/A.

  • Another error

    =ISNA(1/0) → FALSE

    Other errors are not caught.

  • New or existing

    =IF(ISNA(MATCH(A2,List,0)),"new","existing") → new

    A2 is not in the list.

Worth knowing

  • IFNA is the shorter form for replacing #N/A.
  • Count missing lookups: SUMPRODUCT(--ISNA(MATCH(keys,list,0))).
  • Leaves real errors visible.

Where it goes wrong

  • Does not catch #REF! or #VALUE!.
  • MATCH must use type 0 for a meaningful #N/A.

Related

ISBLANKISNUMBERISERRORISTEXTNAISERR

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