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INDIRECT Function in Excel: Syntax, Examples and Free Practice

By Rinkesh Shah, founder of Cellgrids.

INDIRECT is an Excel Lookup & Reference function. Turns a text string into an actual cell reference.

INDIRECT syntax

=INDIRECT(ref_text, [a1])

Arguments

When to use INDIRECT

INDIRECT is used to pull matching data from one part of a workbook into another.

Practice INDIRECT online, free

Open the live Excel-style spreadsheet and try INDIRECT yourself. No Excel install or sign-up needed to start.

Practice INDIRECT now →

Learn more

Read the tutorial: How to use INDIRECT.

More Lookup & Reference functions

Frequently asked questions

What does the INDIRECT function do in Excel?

Turns a text string into an actual cell reference.

What is the syntax of INDIRECT in Excel?

The syntax is =INDIRECT(ref_text, [a1]). ref_text: A text string that Excel should treat as a real reference; a1: Whether to use A1-style references (TRUE) or R1C1-style (FALSE) (optional).

Where can I practice INDIRECT online for free?

Open the free live spreadsheet on Cellgrids and try INDIRECT yourself. No Excel install is needed and you can start without signing up.

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