How to Use INDEX Formula in Excel
The INDEX function in Excel is a powerful lookup and reference
formula used to return the value of a cell at a given position (row and column)
within a specified range or array. It is extremely useful when you need to
extract a specific value from a dataset based on its position, rather than its
content.
Think of INDEX as a GPS for your Excel data: if you know the coordinates (row and column), it can fetch the exact value sitting at that point.
INDEX has two forms:
- Array
Form – Most
commonly used
- Reference Form - Rarely used due to complexity
=INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num])
array: A range of cells or an array constant.
row_num: The row position within the array.
column_num: (Optional) The column position
within the array
Real-Life Example:
The INDEX
function is used here to retrieve a value based on a specific position from a
list or array.
Advantages of INDEX Formula
· Works both vertically and horizontally
· More efficient and flexible than VLOOKUP
· Can retrieve values from any position in the
array
· Perfect for dynamic data extraction
Works well with dynamic named ranges
Thank you for taking the time to read this post. I hope it helped you understand how to use VLOOKUP with MATCH more effectively in your Excel workbooks. If you found this guide helpful, feel free to share it with others and explore more Excel tips on this blog. Happy Excelling!
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