Logical
IFERROR function playground
Returns a value you choose when a formula results in an error.
The playground runs in your browser. Nothing you type is sent anywhere.
How IFERROR works
IFERROR calculates the first argument. If the result is fine, it passes it through unchanged. If it is any error (#N/A, #DIV/0!, #VALUE! and so on), it returns the second argument instead.
It hides every kind of error, including mistakes you'd want to see. For lookups, IFNA or XLOOKUP's if_not_found argument is more precise.
Syntax
=IFERROR(value, value_if_error)| Argument | What it means |
|---|---|
valuerequired | The formula to check. |
value_if_errorrequired | What to show instead if value is any error. |
Examples
| Formula | What it does | Result |
|---|---|---|
=VLOOKUP(I1,A2:E9,2,FALSE) | Without IFERROR: E-110 doesn't exist, so you see #N/A. | #N/A |
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(I1,A2:E9,2,FALSE),"Not found") | With IFERROR: a friendly message instead. | Not found |
=IFERROR(D2/0,0) | Turn a #DIV/0! into 0. | 0 |
=IFERROR(VLOOKUP(I1,A2:E9,2,FALSE),"") | Show nothing when the ID is missing. |
Common mistakes
Hiding real problemsA typo in a range also gives an error, and IFERROR hides it too. Test the formula before wrapping it.
Empty value_if_errorIFERROR(x,) returns 0. Use "" for a blank.
Related functions
Learn more
Download the example workbook (.xlsx)
The workbook has the same sample data and formulas, plus a practice sheet.