Absolute and Relative References in Excel
A reference is relative when it is based on the relative position of the cell containing the formula. If you change the position of the cell containing the formula, the reference changes. If you copy the formula to rows or columns, the reference adjusts automatically.
A reference is absolute when it always refers to a cell in a specific location. If you change the position of the cell containing the formula, the absolute reference remains unchanged. If you copy the formula to rows or columns, the absolute reference does not change.
A reference is mixed when we only specify the letter or number, that is, the row or column. A mixed reference has an absolute column and a relative row, or a relative column and an absolute row. An absolute column reference takes the form $A1, $B2, etc. An absolute row reference takes the form A$1, B$2, etc. If you change the position of the cell containing the formula, the relative reference changes, and the absolute reference does not adjust. If you drag the formula from a cell with a mixed reference, the relative reference adjusts automatically, and the absolute reference remains unchanged.