Relative and absolute references are terms used to describe the types of cell referencing. Relative and absolute cell references behave differently when they are copied. Relative references change when copied and pasted, whereas absolute references may or may not change. It is important to note that the type of reference will not always be obvious by the cell's value because when using formulas and functions, they can include both absolute and relative references.
The following chart demonstrates their differences.
| Type | Symbol | Description |
| Relative | B15 | The reference cell changes depending on the posisition of the formula. |
| Absolute | $B$15, $B15, B$15 | The dollar sign goes in front of the part(s) of the formula that does not change if copied and pasted. |
The following picture demonstrates how relative references work.
The concept of copying and pasting absolute and relative cells can also be applied to formulas, not just numbers.