When working with Excel, one of my go-to functions for checking if a cell contains text is ISTEXT. It’s simple, yet incredibly useful when dealing with data validation, logical tests, and conditional formatting. If you’re wondering, “How ISTEXT works in Excel? Best ISTEXT examples,” you’ve come to the right place.
What Does the ISTEXT Function Do?
ISTEXT is a built-in Excel function that checks whether a given value is text. It returns TRUE if the value is text and FALSE otherwise. This function belongs to the Information category and is particularly useful in logical tests.
Syntax of ISTEXT
The syntax of the ISTEXT function is extremely straightforward:
=ISTEXT(value)Arguments:
value– The value or cell reference that you want to test.
The function evaluates the input and checks whether it is a text string. If it is, it returns TRUE; otherwise, it gives a FALSE result.
Basic ISTEXT Examples
Let’s put ISTEXT to work with some simple examples:
| Cell | Value | Formula | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| A1 | Hello | =ISTEXT(A1) | TRUE |
| A2 | 123 | =ISTEXT(A2) | FALSE |
| A3 | =TODAY() | =ISTEXT(A3) | FALSE |
| A4 | ‘123 (entered as text) | =ISTEXT(A4) | TRUE |
Common Uses of ISTEXT
1. Validating Input Data
If you’re working on a form where a user must enter text, you can use ISTEXT to verify that they have indeed entered text and not numbers.
=IF(ISTEXT(A1),"Valid Input","Invalid Input")If cell A1 contains text, it displays “Valid Input”; otherwise, it shows “Invalid Input.”
2. Combining ISTEXT with Conditional Formatting
To highlight all text values in a range:
- Select the range you want to format.
- Go to Home → Conditional Formatting → New Rule.
- Choose Use a formula to determine which cells to format.
- Enter the formula:
=ISTEXT(A1)5. Click Format, choose a color, and press OK.
This will highlight all text values in the selected range.
3. Filtering Non-Text Entries
ISTEXT can help filter out non-text entries in a large dataset using a helper column:
- In a blank column, enter:
=ISTEXT(A2)2. Drag down to copy the formula.
3. Filter for TRUE values to see only text entries in your dataset.
Limitations and Things to Keep in Mind
- ISTEXT doesn’t check for numbers, dates, or blank cells—it strictly identifies text.
- Numbers stored as text (like ‘123) will return
TRUE. - The function won’t modify data; it only helps evaluate content type.
Final Thoughts
ISTEXT is a powerful function for validating data and ensuring text-based entries are correctly identified. Whether you’re filtering, formatting, or creating logical conditions, it can save a lot of time. If you’re working with mixed datasets, pairing ISTEXT with functions like ISNUMBER or IFERROR can take data processing to the next level. Hopefully, these examples have shown you how ISTEXT works in Excel and how to apply it effectively in different scenarios.
Other interesting article:
How ISNUMBER works in Excel? Best ISNUMBER examples