Welcome to the Treehouse Community

Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.

Looking to learn something new?

Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.

Start your free trial

Data Analysis Spreadsheet Basics Getting Started With Spreadsheets Cell Referencing

Posted by A X
A X
12,842 Points

He lost me at absolute referencing...

The instructor for the spreadsheet mentions relative and absolute referencing. I think I understand relative to mean that the formula can be applied to one cell or many different cells of your choosing....but absolute referencing seems to mean...the exact same thing?? I was extremely confused when the volume calculation equaled another total with absolute referencing vs. relative. In my mind, the relative and absolute volume totals should be exactly the same, so clearly I'm not getting something. Can someone shed some light on this? Thanks!

2 Answers

Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points
Steven Parker
Steven Parker
231,236 Points

They might seem the same until you move or copy something. If a cell has relative referencing, and you move or copy it to the next row, then the cell it referenced before will also move to the next row. But if you move a cell with absolute referencing, it will still use the same cell it did before you moved or copied it.

Here's a supplementary tutorial page about types of references that might also help.

Ruth Holley
Ruth Holley
327 Points
Ruth Holley
Ruth Holley
327 Points

I found the video posted by Steven Parker to be very helpful.