MATCH
MATCH returns the position of a value within a range.
Syntax
=MATCH(lookup_value,lookup_array,[match_type])
Example:
=MATCH(“Rahul”,A2:A4,0)
Result: 3
Because Rahul is the third item in the range.
INDEX + MATCH
INDEX + MATCH combines the two functions:
MATCH → finds the position
INDEX → returns the value
Example:
|
Employee ID |
Name |
Salary |
|
E101 |
Amit |
45000 |
|
E102 |
Neha |
50000 |
|
E103 |
Rahul |
65000 |
To find Rahul’s salary:
=INDEX(C2:C4,MATCH(“Rahul”,B2:B4,0))
Result: 65000
Why Use INDEX + MATCH?
It can be more flexible than traditional VLOOKUP because the lookup range and return range do not have to follow VLOOKUP’s left-to-right structure.