INDEX

Returns a value or the reference to a value from within a table or range. There are two forms of the INDEX

function: the array (array: Used to build single formulas that produce multiple results or that operate on a

group of arguments that are arranged in rows and columns. An array range shares a common formula; an

array constant is a group of constants used as an argument.) form and the reference form.

If you want to Then see

Return the value of a specified cell or array of cells Array form

Return a reference to specified cells Reference form

Array form

Returns the value of an element in a table or an array (array: Used to build single formulas that produce

multiple results or that operate on a group of arguments that are arranged in rows and columns. An array

range shares a common formula; an array constant is a group of constants used as an argument.), selected

by the row and column number indexes.

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

INDEX(array,row_num,column_num)

Array   is 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.

Row_num   selects the row in array from which to return a value. If row_num is omitted, column_num is

required.
 Column_num   selects the column in array from which to return a value. If column_num is omitted, row_num

is required.

Remarks

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 (array formula: A formula that performs multiple calculations on one or more sets of values,

and then returns either a single result or multiple results. Array formulas are enclosed between braces

{ } and are entered by pressing CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER.) 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.

Example 1

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.

2. Select the example in the Help topic.

 NOTE    Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press

CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas

button.

  A B

1 Data Data

2 Apples Lemons

3 Bananas Pears

Formula Description (Result)

=INDEX(A2:B3,2,2 Value at the intersection of the second row and second column in the range
) (Pears)

=INDEX(A2:B3,2,1 Value at the intersection of the second row and first column in the range
) (Bananas)

Example 2

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.

2. Select the example in the Help topic.

 NOTE    Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.

4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas

button.

  A B

1 Formula Description (Result)

2 =INDEX({1,2;3,4},0,2 Value in the first row, second column in the array constant (2)
)
3
Value in the second row, second column in the array constant (4)

 NOTE    The formula in the example must be entered as an array formula. After copying the example to a

blank worksheet, select the range A2:A3 starting with the formula cell. Press F2, and then press

CTRL+SHIFT+ENTER. If the formula is not entered as an array formula, the single result is 2.

Reference form

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.

INDEX(reference,row_num,column_num,area_num)

Reference   is 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. For example, for a single row reference, use

INDEX(reference,,column_num).

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

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

For example, if reference describes the cells (A1:B4,D1:E4,G1:H4), then area_num 1 is the range

A1:B4, area_num 2 is the range D1:E4, and area_num 3 is the range G1:H4.

Remarks

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.

Example

The example may be easier to understand if you copy it to a blank worksheet.

How to copy an example

1. Create a blank workbook or worksheet.

2. Select the example in the Help topic.

 NOTE    Do not select the row or column headers.

3. Press CTRL+C.

4. In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.

5. To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press

CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Formulas tab, in the Formula Auditing group, click the Show Formulas

button.

  A B C

1 Fruit Price Count

2 Apples 0.69 40

3 Bananas 0.34 38

4 Lemons 0.55 15

5 Oranges 0.25 25

6 Pears 0.59 40

7 Almonds 2.80 10

8 Cashews 3.55 16

9 Peanuts 1.25 20

10 Walnuts 1.75 12

11 Formula Description (Result)

=INDEX(A2:C6,2,3) The intersection of the second row and third column in the
range A2:C6, which is the content of cell C3. (38)

=INDEX((A1:C6,A8:C11),2,2,2 The intersection of the second row and second column in

=SUM(INDEX(A1:C11,0,3,1)) The sum of the third column in the first area of the range
A1:C11, which is the sum of C1:C6. (216)

=SUM(B2:INDEX(A2:C6,5,2)) The sum of the range starting at B2, and ending at the
intersection of the fifth row and the second column of the
range A2:A6, which is the sum of B2:B6. (2.42)