INDEX

See Also

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 worksheet.

Show How?

Create a blank workbook or worksheet.
Select the example in the Help topic. Do not select the row or column headers.

Selecting an example from Help
Press CTRL+C.
In the worksheet, select cell A1, and press CTRL+V.
To switch between viewing the results and viewing the formulas that return the results, press CTRL+` (grave accent), or on the Tools menu, point to Formula Auditing, and then click Formula Auditing Mode.

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A	B	C
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)
=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)