N

MS Excel Spreadsheet

See Also

Returns a value converted to a number.

Syntax

N(value)

Value    is the value you want converted. N converts values listed in the following table.

If value is or refers to N returns
A number That number
A date, in one of the built-in date formats available in the spreadsheet The serial number of that date
TRUE 1
FALSE 0
An error value, such as #DIV/0! The error value
Anything else 0
Remarks
  • It is not generally necessary to use the N function in a formula, because values are automatically converted as necessary. This function is provided for compatibility with other spreadsheet programs.
  • Dates are stored as sequential serial numbers so they can be used in calculations. By default, December 31, 1899 is serial number 1, and January 1, 2008 is serial number 39448 because it is 39,448 days after January 1, 1900.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank spreadsheet.

ShowHow?

Data
7
Even
TRUE
4/17/2008
Formula Description (Result)
=N(A2) Because A2 contains a number, it is returned (7)
=N(A3) Because A3 contains text, 0 is returned (0, see above)
=N(A4) Because A4 is the logical value TRUE, 1 is returned (1, see above)
=N(A5) Because A5 is a date, the serial number is returned (varies with the date system used)
=N("7") Because "7" is text, 0 is returned (0, see above)