A cell reference refers to a cell or range of cells on a worksheet and can be used in a formula so that Microsoft Office Excel can look up the values or data you want to calculate using that formula.
In one or more formulas, you can use a cell reference to refer to the following:
- Data from a cell on the worksheet
- Data located in other areas of a worksheet
- Data in cells on other worksheets in the same workbook
| This formula: | Refers to: | And returns: |
| ------------------- | -------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| =C2 | Cell C2 | The value in cell C2 |
| =Assets-Liabilities | The cells named Assets and Liabilities | The value in the Liabilities cell minus the value in the Assets cell |
| {=Week1+Week2} | The cell range named Week1 and Week2 | The sum of the values in the cell range named Week1 and Week 2 as a matrix formula |
| =Sheet2!B2 | Cell B2 on Sheet2 | The value in cell B2 on Sheet2 |