A worksheet in Excel is made up of cells.

These cells can be referenced by specifying

the row value and the column value.

For example, A1 would refer to the first row (specified as 1) and the first column
(specified as A). Similarly, B3 would be the third row and second column.

The power of Excel lies in the fact that you can use these cell references in other cells
when creating formulas.

A cell reference, also known as a cell address, is a mechanism that defines a cell on a
worksheet by combining a column letter and a row number. We can refer to any cell (in
Excel formulas) in the worksheet by using the cell references.

Relative references
By default, all cell references are relative references. When copied across
multiple cells, they change based on the relative position of rows and columns.
For example, if you copy the formula =A1+B1 from row 1 to row 2, the formula
will become =A2+B2. Relative references are especially convenient whenever
you need to repeat the same calculation across multiple rows or columns.

To create and copy a formula using relative references:

In the following example, we want to create a formula that will multiply each
item's price by the quantity. Instead of creating a new formula for each row,
we can create a single formula in cell D2 and then copy it to the other rows.
We'll use relative references so the formula correctly calculates the total for
each item.

1. Select the cell that will contain the formula. In our example, we'll
select cell D2.
2. Enter the formula to calculate the desired value. In our example,
we'll type =B2*C2.

3. Press Enter on your keyboard. The formula will be calculated, and

the result will be displayed in the cell.
4. Locate the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of the desired cell.
In our example, we'll locate the fill handle for cell D2.

5. Click, hold, and drag the fill handle over the cells you want to fill.
In our example, we'll select cells D3:D12.
 6. Release the mouse. The formula will be copied to the selected cells
with relative references, and the values will be calculated in each
cell.

You can double-click the filled cells to check their formulas for accuracy. The
relative cell references should be different for each cell, depending on their
rows.
Absolute references
There may be times when you do not want a cell reference to change when
filling cells. Unlike relative references, absolute references do not change
when copied or filled. You can use an absolute reference to keep a row and/or
column constant.

An absolute reference is designated in a formula by the addition of a dollar sign

($) before the column and row. If it precedes the column or row (but not both),
it's known as a mixed reference.
You will use the relative (A2) and absolute ($A$2) formats in most formulas.
Mixed references are used less frequently.

When writing a formula in Microsoft Excel, you can press the F4 key on your
keyboard to switch between relative, absolute, and mixed cell references, as
shown in the video below. This is an easy way to quickly insert an absolute
reference.

o create and copy a formula using absolute references:

In our example, we'll use the 7.5% sales tax rate in cell E1 to calculate the sales
tax for all items in column D. We'll need to use the absolute cell
reference $E$1 in our formula. Because each formula is using the same tax rate,
we want that reference to remain constant when the formula is copied and filled
to other cells in column D.

1. Select the cell that will contain the formula. In our example, we'll
select cell D3.

2. Enter the formula to calculate the desired value. In our example,

we'll type =(B3*C3)*$E$1.
3. Press Enter on your keyboard. The formula will calculate, and the
result will display in the cell.
4. Locate the fill handle in the bottom-right corner of the desired cell.
In our example, we'll locate the fill handle for cell D3.

5. Click, hold, and drag the fill handle over the cells you want to fill:
cells D4:D13 in our example.
6. Release the mouse. The formula will be copied to the selected cells
with an absolute reference, and the values will be calculated in
each cell.
You can double-click the filled cells to check their formulas for accuracy. The
absolute reference should be the same for each cell, while the other references
are relative to the cell's row.

Be sure to include the dollar sign ($) whenever you're making an absolute
reference across multiple cells. The dollar signs were omitted in the example
below. This caused Excel to interpret it as a relative reference, producing an
incorrect result when copied to other cells.
Mixed Cell Reference:
Mixed cell references are a bit more tricky than the absolute and relative cell
references. There can be two types of mixed cell references:

1. The row is locked while the column changes when the formula is copied.
2. The column is locked while the row changes when the formula is copied.

In the below-mentioned table, I have values in each row (D22, D23 & D24) &
columns (E21, F21 & G21); here, I have to multiply Each column with each row with
the help of Mixed Cell Reference.

There are two types of mixed cell references that can be used here to get the desired
output.
Let’s apply two types of below mentioned mixed reference in the cell “E22”.

The formula would be =$D22*E$21

#1 – $D22: Absolute column and Relative row

Here dollar sign before column D indicates, only row number can change, whereas the
column letter D is fixed; it doesn’t change.

when you copy the formula to the right side, the reference will not change because it
is locked, but When you copy it down, the row number will change because it is not
locked

#2 – E$21: Absolute row and Relative column

Here dollar sign right before the row number indicates only column letter E can
change, whereas the row number is fixed; it doesn’t change.

when you copy the formula down, the row number will not change because it is
locked, but When you copy the formula to the right side, the column alphabet will
change because it is not locked

Now, instead of entering the formula for all the cells one by one, you can apply a
formula to the entire range. Click inside cell E22, and you’ll see the cell selected, then
Select the cells till G24. So that the entire range will get selected. Click on Ctrl+d key
first & later Ctrl+r.

How to Change the Reference from Relative to Absolute (or

Mixed)?

To change the reference from relative to absolute, you need to add the dollar sign
before the column notation and the row number. For example, A1 is a relative cell
reference, and it would become absolute when you make it $A$1.

If you only have a couple of references to change, you may find it easy to change
these references manually. So you can go to the formula bar and edit the formula (or
select the cell, press F2, and then change it).

However, a faster way to do this is by using the keyboard shortcut – F4.When you
select a cell reference (in the formula bar or in the cell in edit mode) and press F4, it
changes the reference.Suppose you have the reference =A1 in a cell.

Here is what happens when you select the reference and press the F4 key.
• Press F4 key once: The cell reference changes from A1 to $A$1 (becomes
‘absolute’ from ‘relative’).
• Press F4 key two times: The cell reference changes from A1 to A$1 (changes
to mixed reference where the row is locked).
• Press F4 key three times: The cell reference changes from A1 to $A1
(changes to mixed reference where the column is locked).
• Press F4 key four times: The cell reference becomes A1 again.