Excel NA Function
Summary
The Excel NA function returns the #N/A error. #N/A means "not available" or "no value available". You can nest the NA function inside a formula to display the #N/A error when information is missing.
Purpose
Create an #N/A error
Return value
The #N/A error
Syntax
=NA ()
Arguments
Usage notes
Use NA to generate the #N/A. #N/A means "not available" or "no value available". For example, you can use the NA function to flag cells that are empty or missing information needed for a calculation.
In the example shown, the formula in D8 is:
=IF(B8="",NA(),B8*C8)
When the quantity is missing, there isn't enough data to run the calculation.,so the formula checks to see if the cell in column B is blank. If so, it returns the #N/A error using NA. If a value exists, the normal calculation is run.
Notes:
- When other formulas refer to cells that contain #N/A, they also return #N/A.
- NA takes no arguments, but you must provide empty parentheses.
- You can also enter the value #N/A directly into a cell as text.