Returns the value of an element in a table or an array, selected by the row and column number indexes.

The INDEX function has two syntax forms: array and reference. The array form always returns a value or array of values; the reference form always returns a reference. Use the array form if the first argument to INDEX is an array constant.

Syntax 1

Array form

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 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 spreadsheet.

How?

1. Create a blank spreadsheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.

 

Data	Data
Apples	Lemons
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 spreadsheet.

How?

1. Create a blank spreadsheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.

 

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

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.

The INDEX function has two syntax forms: array and reference. The array form always returns a value or an array of values; the reference form always returns a reference.

Syntax 2

Reference form

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 spreadsheet.

How?

1. Create a blank spreadsheet.
2. Select the example in the Help topic.

   

   Selecting an example from Help

3. Press CTRL+C.
4. In the spreadsheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
5. To switch between viewing the formula that returns the result and the result in the cell, select the cell and press F2 and then ENTER, or click Commands and Options on the spreadsheet toolbar, click the Formula tab, and look in the Formula in active cell (active cell) box.

 

Fruit	Price	Count
Apples	0.69	40
Bananas	0.34	38
Lemons	0.55	15
Oranges	0.25	25
Pears	0.59	40
Almonds	2.80	10
Cashews	3.55	16
Peanuts	1.25	20
Walnuts	1.75	12
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 the second area of A8:C11, which is the content of cell B9. (3.55)
=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)