Forum Discussion
Looking for use cases of function TYPE
What do you use the TYPE function for? I’m not looking for a general explanation of what the TYPE function can do—I already know that. For example, why do you use the TYPE function instead of functio...
TYPE is helpful for two things mostly:
64 - array detection (can also use ROWS and COLUMNS for dimension check)
128 - compound data
This is a basic example of using TYPE to validate the function input of a Lambda:
MyLambda=
LAMBDA(
array,
[function],
LET(
// Check optional function input, default to SUM if omitted
function, IF(ISOMITTED(function),SUM,function),
// Compound data - TYPE = 128 - valid function
InValidFn?, TYPE(function) <> 128,
// Halt function if supplied function is invalid
IF(InValidFn?,"#INVALID-FUNCTION!",function(array))));
// Sheet level formula: =MyLambda(arr,AVERAGE)
So you do not use TYPE directly in the sheet, but inside a named expression that is intended to be used by someone else?
That's the short of it.
The ability to supply functions like this ETA arrangement for example:
=BYROW(array,SUM)Is a recent change from how things have been for a long time. This same ETA arrangement can be used in Lambdas and that's where TYPE comes in to check the input.
