Types of Cell References in excel

Many formulas in Excel contain references to other cells. These references allow formulas to dynamically update their contents. We can distinguish these reference in three types of cell references:

• Relative cell reference
• Absolute cell reference
• Mixed cell reference

Relative References:

This is a standard type of reference. for example, If cell A1 contains value 2, and cell B1 contains formula =A1+2 (referring to cell A1), then the formula B1 contains value 4. If you change the value in cell A1 to 5, then the value in cell B1 automatically changes to 7. the formula =A1+2 is relative references.

Absolute References: 

Absolute cell reference always points to the same place, even if you change the position of any of those cells. In other words, if you have cell A1 which refers to the contents of cell B1 (=$B$1) and then you change the position of A1 it will still refer to cell B1. If you drag to cell B1 to another location, for example, B3, then A1 will point to the new location of the same cell (=$B$3).

Mixed References:

A mixed reference is a reference that refers to a specific row or column. For example, $A1 or A$1. If you want to create a mixed reference- press the F4 key on the formula bar two or three times depending on whether you want to refer to row or column. Press F4 one more time to go back to the relative cell reference.

Relative reference, Absolute Reference and Mixed Reference 

Relative Reference: C2 neither row or column is fixed 

Absolute Reference: $C$2 both rows and column is fixed
Mixed Reference: $C2 column c is fixed or C$2 row 2 are fixed

Note: Do Press F4 key to toggle on the formula bar two or three times depending on whether you want to refer to row or column.