Data Validation

You can help users enter accurate and appropriate information into your spreadsheets with Sheets' data validation feature. Data validation restricts the type of information that can be entered in a cell and can provide the user with instructions for entering information in a cell.

Create a Validation Rule

1. Select a cell or cell range.
2. Click Data on the menu bar.
3. Select Data Validation.
   
4. Click the Criteria list arrow.

   From this list, we can choose to create a list of values to select from, or require numbers, text, or dates. You can also create a formula to validate data, or create a check box cell.

5. Select a criterion.
   
6. Configure the selected criteria options.

   Here we can select whether to require numbers to be in a range, not in a range, or less than, greater than, or equal to a number.

7. Choose how to handle invalid data.
8. (Optional) Add validation help text.
   
9. Click Save.
   

If we enter a value outside of that range, an error marker will appear in that cell. Hovering your mouse cursor over it will display the error message we created.

Edit or Remove Data Validation

You can also edit any data validation rules that you've created, or remove them altogether.

1. Select the cell or cell range that contains the data validation.
2. Click Data on the menu bar.
3. Select Data Validation.
   
4. Edit or remove the existing validation.
   

The data validation rule is updated or removed.