ISTEXT Function (LibreOffice Calc)
The ISTEXT function in LibreOffice Calc checks whether a value is text. It is essential for data validation, cleaning imported datasets, and building conditional logic that distinguishes between text and numeric values.
Verification status: Consult the documentation and examples below. Native application testing has not been documented for this guide. How formula examples are checked
What the ISTEXT Function Does
- Returns TRUE if a value is text
- Returns FALSE for numbers, logical values, errors, or empty cells
- Useful for validating input and cleaning imported data
- Works with literals, formulas, and references
It is designed to be simple, reliable, and universally compatible.
Syntax
ISTEXT(value)
Arguments
- value:
Any value, expression, or cell reference.
Basic Examples
Check if A1 contains text
=ISTEXT(A1)
Use with IF to validate text input
=IF(ISTEXT(A1); "Text"; "Not Text")
Check a literal string
=ISTEXT("Hello")
Returns TRUE.
Check a number
=ISTEXT(42)
Returns FALSE.
Advanced Examples
Detect text that looks like a number
=ISTEXT("123")
Returns TRUE — numeric-looking text is still text.
Detect text returned by formulas
=ISTEXT(A1 & "")
TRUE because concatenation forces text output.
Detect empty-string formulas
=ISTEXT("")
Returns TRUE — empty string is text, not blank.
Validate imported data
=ISTEXT(TRIM(A1))
Useful for cleaning CSV imports.
Check if a cell contains a label vs. a value
=ISTEXT(A1)
Useful for mixed datasets.
Detect text errors from functions
=ISTEXT(IFERROR(A1; "Error"))
TRUE if the fallback is text.
Check if a cell contains a non-numeric date-like string
=ISTEXT(A1)
Useful when parsing inconsistent date formats.
Edge Cases and Behavior Details
Empty string "" IS text
=ISTEXT("")
Returns TRUE.
A blank cell is NOT text
=ISTEXT(A1)
Returns FALSE if A1 is truly empty.
A cell containing a number formatted as text IS text
=ISTEXT("42")
Returns TRUE.
A cell containing a date is NOT text
=ISTEXT(DATE(2024;1;1))
Returns FALSE — dates are numeric.
A cell containing a boolean is NOT text
=ISTEXT(TRUE)
Returns FALSE.
A cell containing an error is NOT text
=ISTEXT(#N/A)
Returns FALSE.
Common Errors and Fixes
ISTEXT returns FALSE unexpectedly
Cause:
- Value is numeric
- Value is a date or time
- Value is blank
- Value is a formula returning a number
Fix:
Wrap with TEXT() or convert using &"" if text is required.
ISTEXT returns TRUE unexpectedly
Cause:
- Value is a numeric-looking string
- Value is an empty string ""
- Value is text imported from external sources
ISTEXT used on a range
=ISTEXT(A1:A10)
Returns a single TRUE/FALSE in array context; use COUNTIF instead.
Best Practices
- Use ISTEXT to validate text input
- Use VALUE to convert numeric text before calculations
- Use TRIM to clean whitespace
- Use AND/OR with ISTEXT for complex validation
- Use ISTEXT to detect empty-string formulas
Related Patterns and Alternatives
- Use ISNUMBER to detect numeric values
- Use ISBLANK to detect empty cells
- Use ISLOGICAL to detect TRUE/FALSE
- Use VALUE to convert numeric text
- Use COUNTIF for text-based range checks
By mastering ISTEXT and its companion functions, you can build clean, reliable, and error‑resistant data workflows in LibreOffice Calc.
Reproducible example (tested in LibreOffice Calc)
This standalone example was calculated in LibreOffice Calc 25.2.3.2 and matched the expected value. It is a practical cross-check of one usage, not proof that every example elsewhere on this page is correct.
=ISTEXT("hello")
Expected result: TRUE.
Distinguish text from numbers.
If the result differs, check the referenced cells, argument separators and number formatting. For more information, consult the LibreOffice Calc official help.