# VALUE

Converts a text string that represents a number to a number.

## Syntax

VALUE(<text>)


### Parameters

Term Definition
text The text to be converted.

## Return value

The converted number in decimal data type.

## Remarks

• The value passed as the text parameter can be in any of the constant, number, date, or time formats recognized by the application or services you are using. If text is not in one of these formats, an error is returned.

• You do not generally need to use the VALUE function in a formula because the engine implicitly converts text to numbers as necessary.

• You can also use column references. For example, if you have a column that contains mixed number types, VALUE can be used to convert all values to a single numeric data type. However, if you use the VALUE function with a column that contains mixed numbers and text, the entire column is flagged with an error, because not all values in all rows can be converted to numbers.

## Example

The following formula converts the typed string, "3", into the numeric value 3.

= VALUE("3")