Excel Operator Precedence
Excel weighs priorities (precedence) for different operators while calculating the result of a formula. When we use many different operators in a complex formula, Excel considers different operators with different priorities (precedence).
For example, let us consider an example of the formula =3+5*4. There are two different possibilities for the result of the formula.
- (3+5)*4 = 8*4 = 32
- 3+(5*4) = 3+20 = 23
Refer below image.
Note that Excel has selected the second possibility in above list, that is 3+(5*4) = 3+20 = 23. In other way, Excel has given more precedence (priority) for the multiplication operator, when compared with addition operator.
Following table lists Excel operator precedence.
| Operator | Description | Order of Precedence |
|---|---|---|
| : | Range reference operator | 1st |
| <space> | Intersection reference operator | 2nd |
| , | Union reference operator | 3rd |
| - | Negation mathematical operator | 4th |
| % | Percentage mathematical operator | 5th |
| ^ | Exponentiation mathematical operator | 6th |
| * and / | Multiplication and division mathematical operators | 7th |
| + and - | Addition and subtraction mathematical operators | 8th |
| & | Concatenation text operator | 9th |
| =, <, >, <=, >=, <> | Comparison operators | 10th |