INDEX Function in Excel
Intermediate
Returns the value of an element in a table or an array, selected by the row and column number indexes.
Syntax
=INDEX(array, row_num, [column_num])Example
Use Case
Get the value in the 3rd row and 2nd column of a table.
Common Errors to Avoid
- #REF! error when row or column number exceeds array dimensions
- Forgetting that row/column numbers count from 1, not 0
- Not using column_num parameter for multi-column arrays
Pro Tips
Combine with MATCH to create dynamic lookups that work in any direction. Use INDEX-MATCH instead of VLOOKUP for better performance with large datasets. Lock array references with $ signs.
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