Ravindra BagaleCourses & study guides

4. Lookup Functions

4.4 INDEX and MATCH

  • =INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num]) returns the value at a position.
  • =MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_array, [match_type]) returns the position of a value; match_type 0 = exact, 1 = largest ≤ (sorted ascending), -1 = smallest ≥ (sorted descending).

Together: MATCH finds the row, INDEX returns the value.

=INDEX(Stores!$E$2:$E$8, MATCH(G2, Stores!$A$2:$A$8, 0))
Step Result for G2 = AMN-SLP-01
MATCH("AMN-SLP-01",Stores!$A$2:$A$8,0) 6
INDEX(Stores!$E$2:$E$8,6) Salman

Left lookup (VLOOKUP can't): find the Store ID of the Area "Dharampeth":

=INDEX(Stores!$A$2:$A$8, MATCH("Dharampeth", Stores!$D$2:$D$8, 0))    → AMN-NGP-01

Advantages of INDEX + MATCH over VLOOKUP: looks left or right; inserting/deleting columns doesn't break it; you can reuse one MATCH in many INDEX formulas (faster on big data); works in every Excel version.

Ravindra Bagale's Tip

INDEX + MATCH madhe khup students MATCH cha shevtcha 0 visartat – mag default 1 (approximate) lagto aani unsorted data var chukicha row yeto. Tasech INDEX chi range aani MATCH chi range same row pasun suru vhayla havi (doghi row 2 pasun). He don niyam lakshat theva, INDEX MATCH ekdum simple aahe.

Practice task

With INDEX + MATCH: return the Platform for each Store ID; find the Store ID for the manager "Rani" (left lookup); return the Area for Store ID in cell J1.