INDIRECT function

Category: Lookup and reference
Introduced: Excel 2003

Summary

Returns a reference indicated by a text value

Syntax

INDIRECT(ref_text, [a1]) The INDIRECT function syntax has the following arguments:
• Ref_text Required. A reference to a cell that contains an A1-style reference, an R1C1-style reference, a name defined as a reference, or a reference to a cell as a text string. If ref_text is not a valid cell reference, INDIRECT returns the #REF! error value. If ref_text refers to another workbook (an external reference), the other workbook must be open. If the source workbook is not open, INDIRECT returns the #REF! error value. Note: External references are not supported in Excel Web App. If ref_text refers to a cell range outside the row limit of 1,048,576 or the column limit of 16,384 (XFD), INDIRECT returns a #REF! error.
• If ref_text refers to another workbook (an external reference), the other workbook must be open. If the source workbook is not open, INDIRECT returns the #REF! error value. Note: External references are not supported in Excel Web App.
• If ref_text refers to a cell range outside the row limit of 1,048,576 or the column limit of 16,384 (XFD), INDIRECT returns a #REF! error.
• A1 Optional. A logical value that specifies what type of reference is contained in the cell ref_text. If a1 is TRUE or omitted, ref_text is interpreted as an A1-style reference. If a1 is FALSE, ref_text is interpreted as an R1C1-style reference.
• If a1 is TRUE or omitted, ref_text is interpreted as an A1-style reference.
• If a1 is FALSE, ref_text is interpreted as an R1C1-style reference.

Example

=INDIRECT(A2)
=INDIRECT(A3)
=INDIRECT(A4)
=INDIRECT("B"&A5)

Microsoft Support Page

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/indirect-function-474b3a3a-8a26-4f44-b491-92b6306fa261

Back to Functions