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Information function

N

Converts a value to a number: TRUE to 1, text and blanks to 0.

OccasionalDifficulty 1100 · ProficientUsage rank #184 of 520
Practice · 2 questions →

When to use it

Converts a value to a number: numbers pass through, dates become serials, TRUE is 1, and text becomes 0. Also a classic way to attach a comment inside a formula.

The shape of it

Syntax
=N(value)

Worked examples

  • Text

    =N("abc") → 0

    Text becomes zero.

  • Logical

    =N(TRUE) → 1

    Logical to number.

  • A formula comment

    =SUM(A1:A5)+N("monthly total") → 145

    N of text is 0, so the comment costs nothing and lives in the formula.

Worth knowing

  • Use N("note") to document a formula without a cell comment.
  • VALUE converts numeric text; N zeroes it.
  • Errors pass through as errors.

Where it goes wrong

  • Numeric text becomes 0, not its value.
  • Rarely needed in modern formulas.

Related

ISBLANKISNUMBERISERRORISTEXTISNANA

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