Excel INDEX MATCH Function (Table of Contents)
Introduction to INDEX MATCH Function
Being an Excel user, we often rely on VLOOKUP, in the worst-case HLOOKUP formula, to look up the values inside a given range of cells. However, it is a well-known fact that VLOOKUP has its own limitations. For example, we can’t lookup the values from right to left if you are using VLOOKUP as a function, and this is where I believe users across the globe might have started to find out an alternative for this function. As far as an alternative is concerned, there is an alternative for VLOOKUP, which is more versatile and called INDEX MATCH popularly. In this article, we will see how INDEX MATCH works with the help of some examples.
The syntax for INDEX MATCH
As is said earlier, INDEX and MATCH work as a combination to lookup the value in a given range. It has syntax as below:
Arguments:
INDEX() – Formula that allows you to capture the value from a given cell through the table associated with column or row number.
MATCH() – Formula matches the lookup value in a given array and provides its position as an argument to the INDEX function.
How to Use the INDEX MATCH Function in Excel?
We will see how INDEX MATCH can be used as an alternative to VLOOKUP through this example.
Example #1 – INDEX MATCH as an Alternative to VLOOKUP
Suppose we have data as shown in the screenshot below:
We are about to capture the Location column with the Name column as a reference (for name Lalit).
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Step 1: In cell H2, start typing =INDEX and double click to select the INDEX formula out of the list of all possible functions starting with the keyword INDEX.
Step 2: Use $C$1:$C$5 (Location column) as an argument to the INDEX formula (this is an array from where we want to pull the lookup value for a match). The dollar sign emphasizes that the range C1:C5 is made constant for the processing of this formula.
Step 3: Use the MATCH formula as a second argument inside the INDEX formula and use a value in H1 as a lookup value under the MATCH formula.
Step 4: Select the lookup array from A1:A5 as this is the column where we would like to check whether the lookup value can be found. Also, use zero as an exact match argument inside the MATCH function as zero looks up for the exact match of the lookup value.
Step 5: Close the parentheses to complete the formula and press Enter key to see the output. We could see Location as Pune, which is looked up based on lookup value Lalit.
Example #2 – INDEX MATCH for LOOKUP from Right to Left
Now, suppose a scenario where we have a salary as a lookup value, and we need to figure out with whom that salary is associated with.
Step 1: Start the formula with =INDEX and use A1:A5 as an array argument to it under cell H2 of the current worksheet.
Step 2: Use the MATCH formula under INDEX as a second argument. Inside MATCH, use H1 as a lookup value argument.
Step 3: D1:D5 would be your lookup array. The formula will search the lookup value in this array and give the position of the same as an argument to the INDEX formula. Don’t forget to use zero as a matching argument.
Step 4: Close the parentheses to complete the formula and press Enter key to see the output. You can see the name as Martha in H2 and could verify that she is the one who has a salary of $2,300.
Example #3 – INDEX MATCH to LOOKUP Values from Rows and Columns
Suppose we have data as shown below, and we need to lookup sales value for India in 2018. We need to do two types of matching, one for the Country and another for the Year. See how it goes with INDEX MATCH.
Step 1: Input =INDEX formula and select all the data as a reference array for the index function (A1:D8).
We need to use two MATCH functions to match the country name and the other matching the year value.
Step 2: Use MATCH as an argument under INDEX and set F2 as a lookup value under it. This is the MATCH for COUNTRY.
Step 3: Use A1:A8 as a lookup array as this is where we could find the specified country name. Don’t forget to use zero as a matching criteria which specifies an exact match.
Step 4: Now, again, use the MATCH function, which allows the system to check the year 2018 and assign the position of Sales value associated with India to the INDEX formula. Set the lookup value as G2 inside the MATCH formula.
Step 5: Here, we could see only cell A1:D1 are the ones where we could find the lookup value 2018. Thus, use the same as a lookup array to the MATCH formula.
Step 6: Use zero as matching criteria that specifies the exact match for the year value inside the lookup range. Close the parentheses and press Enter key to see the output.
We can see that the function has captured the correct value for the 2018 sales value associated with the country India. This is how we can use the INDEX MATCH function under different scenarios. Let’s wrap the things with some points to be remembered.
Conclusion
INDEX MATCH is not a function itself in Excel; rather, it is a combination of two different formulae and is very powerful than VLOOKUP (we will check this in short). This function can be used on rows, columns, or on a combination of both, which makes it a successor of old-school VLOOKUP, which can only work on columns (vertical lines). This combination is so relevant that some analysts even prefer to look up the values and never move their head towards VLOOKUP.
Things to Remember
- INDEX MATCH is not a function in Excel, but a combination of two formulas, INDEX, and MATCH
- INDEX MATCH can be used as an alternative to old-school VLOOKUP. VLOOKUP only can see through the vertical cells. Whereas INDEX MATCH can lookup values based on rows, columns, and a combination of both (see example 3 for reference).
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