Excel ROW function returns the row number of a cell or a range. It’s a simple but handy function that can be used to find out the row number of a specific cell, which can be useful in various tasks such as data analysis and referencing.
Syntax
ROW([reference])
Arguments
| [reference] | The cell or range for which you want to find the row number. If omitted, it defaults to the row of the cell in which the formula is located. |
How to use
The ROW function is straightforward to use. You can use it with or without the reference argument.
Without reference (Simple Usage):
When you don’t specify a reference, ROW will return the row number of the cell where the formula is placed. For example:
|
1 |
=ROW() |
If this formula is in cell B3, it will return 3, as it’s in the third row.
With reference (Advanced Usage):
You can also use the ROW function to find the row number of a specific cell or range. For example:
|
1 |
=ROW(A1) |
This formula returns the row number of cell A1, which is 1.
Using ROW in calculations:
ROW can be used in various Excel functions and calculations. For example, you can use it with the INDEX function to create dynamic references, or with other functions to perform specific operations based on row numbers.
Examples
Let’s see some practical examples:
Example 1: Using ROW without a reference:
|
1 |
=ROW() |
If placed in cell D5, this formula will return 5, as it’s in the fifth row.
Example 2: Using ROW with a reference:
|
1 |
=ROW(B3) |
This formula, if placed in cell D5, will return 3, as it’s referencing cell B3, which is in the third row.
Example 3: Using ROW in combination with other functions:
|
1 |
=INDEX(A1:A5, ROW()) |
This formula retrieves the value from the cell in column A corresponding to the row in which the formula is placed. If the formula is in cell D5, it will return the value from cell A5.
Additional information
The ROW function is a helpful tool for working with data in Excel, especially when you need to perform operations based on row numbers or create dynamic references. It’s a simple function, but it can be a powerful tool in your Excel toolkit.
