Mastering INDEX + MATCH – The Smarter Alternative to VLOOKUP

Looking for a more powerful alternative to VLOOKUP? The INDEX + MATCH combo gives you more control and fewer limitations.

🔹 Syntax:

=INDEX(return_range, MATCH(lookup_value, lookup_range, 0))

🔹 Step 1 – MATCH:

Find the position of a value:

=MATCH("Amit", A2:A10, 0)

🔹 Step 2 – INDEX:

Return value at that position:

=INDEX(B2:B10, 3)

🔹 Combine Them:

=INDEX(B2:B10, MATCH("Amit", A2:A10, 0))

✅ Looks up a value dynamically – works left, right, or across sheets!

🔹 Why It’s Better Than VLOOKUP:

• ✔ Doesn’t break if column order changes
• ✔ Can lookup from right-to-left (which VLOOKUP can’t do)
• ✔ Works with data on any side

🔚 Wrap-Up:

INDEX + MATCH gives you a professional-grade way to handle complex lookups and dashboards in Excel. It’s a must-have formula combo.

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