Separate retrieval from locating the record

INDEX returns information from an array according to a position, while MATCH finds the position of a requested value. Combining the two lets an Excel lookup identify the row and then retrieve the corresponding information. The source presents this as an alternative to VLOOKUP when that function's structural restrictions make a task awkward. Each part has a distinct purpose, which helps explain the behavior of the completed expression.

Align the searched and returned information

The position produced by MATCH must correspond to the arrangement used by INDEX. Check those ranges together, especially after moving columns or extending a table. Choose matching behavior deliberately so an approximate result is not mistaken for an exact record. The benefit of the combination is flexibility, but that does not remove the need for a consistent data structure. Test the formula with a record whose expected answer is already known.

Understand the INDEX-MATCH Alternative to a Dedicated Lookup