{"id":2255,"date":"2026-10-01T10:48:51","date_gmt":"2026-10-01T10:48:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.exceldepartment.com\/?page_id=2255"},"modified":"2026-10-31T12:13:15","modified_gmt":"2026-10-31T12:13:15","slug":"cells-contain-several-types-of-information","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.exceldepartment.com\/en\/excel-course\/excel-basic-course\/formulas\/cells-contain-several-types-of-information\/","title":{"rendered":"Cells contain several types of information"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Cells contain several types of information<\/h1>\n

Cells can contain formulas, values and formatting. \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0<\/p>\n

Formulas<\/h2>\n

Formulas are expressions that calculate a value in a cell. A formula always begins with an equals sign (=).<\/p>\n

=1+2<\/code> is an example of a formula. It calculates the value 3.<\/p>\n

You can use references in formulas. Instead of writing =1+2<\/code> you can write 1 in one cell (e.g. A1) and 2 in another cell (e.g. A2), and then in A3 write =A1+A2<\/code>.<\/p>\n

Values<\/h2>\n

Values are what formulas calculate. If you write =1+2<\/code> in a cell, then =1+2<\/code> is the formula and 3 is the value.<\/p>\n

If you write =SUM(1,2)<\/code> in a cell, then =SUM(1,2)<\/code> is the formula and the value the formula calculates is 3.<\/p>\n

If you just write 3 in a cell, there is no formula there, only a value.<\/p>\n

Formatting<\/h2>\n

Formatting only affects how the value in the cell is displayed. Depending on
\nhow the value 1200.5 in cell A1 is formatted, it may for example be displayed as:<\/p>\n