---
title: "Writing formulas"
slug: "writing-formulas"
updated: 2026-04-29T16:50:03Z
published: 2026-04-29T16:50:03Z
canonical: "help.quickbase.com/writing-formulas"
---

> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://help.quickbase.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Writing formulas

Write your formula using [formula components](/v1/docs/formula-components).

1. Add a function You can type functions out by hand if you know which one you want to use, or
  - Make sure the cursor is in the formula editor
  - Then Select **Choose fields & functions** > **Select a function** This opens a pop-up window to browse, filter, and select formula functions. ![Pop-up window for browsing, filtering, and selecting formula functions](https://cdn.document360.io/dd260e4e-10bb-4b66-8fb3-5504c272b904/Images/Documentation/4891915406356.png)
2. Add literals or field references
  - Literals are surrounded by quotation marks
  - Field references are surrounded by brackets. You can write fields out by hand, or
    - With the cursor in the formula editor, Select **Choose fields & functions**.
    - Scroll to see all fields in the table. Select a field to add it to the formula.
3. Add operators
  - Follow [operator precedence](/v1/docs/operator-precedence-in-formulas)
4. Check for and resolve errors
  - How real time error checking works
  - Troubleshooting formulas
5. Edit any necessary formula field options For example,
  - Change how numbers display
  - Set permissions
6. **Save** in the page bar

## Up next

- [Best practices: writing formulas](/v1/docs/best-practices-writing-formulas)
- [Commonly used formula functions and formula examples](/v1/docs/commonly-used-formula-functions-and-formula-examples)