TYPE

Returns the type of value (number, text, etc.).

Syntax:

TYPE(value)

Returns the type of value as a number: 1 = number, 2 = text, 4 = logical value, 8 = formula, 16 = error value, 64 = array.

If a cell contains both an error and a formula, 16 (error value) is returned.

A blank cell is classed as a number here, and 1 is returned.

Example:

TYPE(C2)

where cell C2 contains dog returns 2, because dog is text.

TYPE(C3)

where cell C3 contains =NA() returns 16, because NA() returns the error value #N/A.

TYPE({3;5;7})

returns 64

{=TYPE(A1:B1)} entered as an array formula in cells A3:B3

returns 64 in cells A3:B3 (whatever the contents of cells A1 and B1), as A1:B1 is an internal array in the array formula.

TYPE(A1:B1) entered as a normal formula in both cells A3 and B3

returns TYPE(A1) in cell A3, and TYPE(B1) in cell B3. Here Calc finds the row/column intersection of the formula cell with range A1:B1, to determine a reference to the single cell to examine.

TYPE(D1), where D1:D2 contain the array formula {={4;2}}

returns 8. Here the result is for D1's content, which although part of an array is not the array itself.

Application:

Scenario

Imagine you have a table storing customer feedback on a new product. The feedback is collected through a web form, and the "Value" column is a free-form input. Customers can enter text, a rating (number), or even a date. You need to analyze this data and categorize it based on the type of feedback received.

CustomerFeedback Table

	Feedback ID	Customer ID	Feedback Type	Feedback Value
	A	B	C	D
1	101	5001	Rating	4
2	102	5002	Comment	The product is great!
3	103	5003	Bug Report	7.5
4	104	5004	Suggestion	Add more colors.
5	105	5005	Rating	5
6	106	5006	Comment	Could be faster.
7	107	5007	Bug Report	Error code 404

Applying the TYPE function

To understand the kind of data in the FeedbackValue column, you can use the TYPE function. The result of applying the TYPE function to the Feedback Value column would be:

1 for Number, 2 for Text

Result Table

	Feedback ID	Feedback Value	Type	Description
	A	B	C	D
1	101	4	1	A numerical rating.
2	102	The product is great!	2	A text comment.
3	103	7.5	1	A numerical bug severity score.
4	104	Add more colors.	2	A text suggestion.
5	105	5	1	A numerical rating.
6	106	Could be faster.	2	A text comment.
7	107	Error code 404	2	A text bug description.