Term of the Moment
lab on a chip
Definition: circular reference
(1) A programming conflict whereby the operation of each of two routines requires the result from the other routine. See recursion.
(2) In a spreadsheet, a conflict in which the formula computes the cell that the formula itself is located in. For example, a formula in cell A9 that sums the values of "A7 + A8 + A9" is a circular reference.
A Spreadsheet Warning
(2) In a spreadsheet, a conflict in which the formula computes the cell that the formula itself is located in. For example, a formula in cell A9 that sums the values of "A7 + A8 + A9" is a circular reference.
Circular references are identified in spreadsheets. However, this Excel example does not indicate which cell is the problem.