Lookup and Reference - INDEX Function

Description

The INDEX function returns a value or the reference to a value from within a table or range. You can use INDEX function in two ways −

  • To return the value of a specified cell or array of cells.
  • To return a reference to specified cells.

Using INDEX function to return the value of a specified cell or array of cells

Use this if the first argument to INDEX is an array constant.

Description

The function 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])

Arguments

Argument Description Required/ Optional
Array

A range of cells or an array constant.

If array contains only one row or column, the corresponding Row_num or Column_num argument is optional.

If array has more than one row and more than one column, and only Row_num or Column_num is used, INDEX returns an array of the entire row or column in array.

 Required
Row_num

Selects the row in array from which to return a value. If Row_num is omitted, Column_num is required.

 Required
Column_num

Selects the column in array from which to return a value.

If Column_num is omitted, Row_num is required.

 Optional

Notes

  • If both the Row_num and Column_num arguments are used, INDEX returns the value in the cell at the intersection of Row_num and Column_num.

  • If you set Row_num or Column_num to 0 (zero), INDEX returns the array of values for the entire column or row, respectively. To use values returned as an array, enter the INDEX function as an array formula in a horizontal range of cells for a row, and in a vertical range of cells for a column. To enter an array formula, press CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER

  • Row_num and Column_num must point to a cell within array. Otherwise, INDEX returns the #REF! error value.

Using INDEX function to return a reference to specified cells

Description

The function returns the reference of the cell at the intersection of a particular row and column. If the reference is made up of nonadjacent selections, you can pick the selection to look in.

Syntax

INDEX (reference, row_num, [column_num], [area_num])

Arguments

Argument Description Required/ Optional
Reference

A reference to one or more cell ranges.

If you are entering a nonadjacent range for the reference, enclose reference in parentheses.

If each area in reference contains only one row or column, the Row_num or Column_num argument, respectively, is optional. E.g. for a single row reference, use −

INDEX(reference,,column_num)

 Required
Row_num

The number of the row in reference from which to return a reference.

 Required
Column_num

The number of the column in reference from which to return a reference.

 Optional
Area_num

Selects a range in reference from which to return the intersection of Row_num and Column_num. The first area selected or entered is numbered 1, the second is 2, and so on.

If Area_num is omitted, INDEX uses area 1.

 Optional

Notes

  • After Reference and Area_num have selected a particular range, Row_num and Column_num select a particular cell: Row_num 1 is the first row in the range, Column_num 1 is the first column, and so on. The reference returned by INDEX is the intersection of Row_num and Column_num.

  • If you set Row_num or Column_num to 0 (zero), INDEX returns the reference for the entire column or row, respectively.

  • Row_num, Column_num, and Area_num must point to a cell within reference. Otherwise, INDEX returns the #REF! Error value. If Row_num and Column_num are omitted, INDEX returns the area in reference specified by Area_num.

  • The result of the INDEX function is a reference and is interpreted as such by other formulas. Depending on the formula, the return value of INDEX may be used as a reference or as a value. For example, the formula CELL("width",INDEX(A1:B2,1,2)) is equivalent to CELL("width",B1). The CELL function uses the return value of INDEX as a cell reference. On the other hand, a formula such as 2*INDEX(A1:B2,1,2) translates the return value of INDEX into the number in cell B1.

Applicability

Excel 2007, Excel 2010, Excel 2013, Excel 2016

Example

Index Function
advanced_excel_lookup_reference_functions.htm
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