Match Function in Excel (Formula, Example)

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MATCH in Excel (Table of Contents)

MATCH Function in Excel
MATCH Formula in Excel
How to Use MATCH Function in Excel?

MATCH Excel Function

The Excel MATCH function is simple lookup function used in Excel. MATCH Function in Excel is used to find out the position of a lookup value in a lookup array (row, column, or table). MATCH function in excel search the lookup_value in lookup_array for approximate and exact matching, and also supports (*&?) for partial matches values. Excel Match function often used with index formula to find the lookup value.

Basically, MATCH function in Excel returns a relative position of a lookup value in a range of cells. In simple words Excel MATCH function searches for a lookup_value in a lookup_array and provides the relative position of that lookup_value.

MATCH Formula in Excel

The MATCH Formula in excel is as follows

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Explanation of MATCH Function in Excel

MATCH Formula in Excel has three parameter two (lookup_value,lookup_array) are compulsory parameters and one (match_type) is optional.

Compulsory Parameter:

lookup_value: lookup value is value which you want to search in lookup array. Suppose you want to search a word in dictionary than that particular word will be your lookup value and dictionary will be your lookup array.
lookup_array: lookup_array is the set of data where the lookup value is located and your search applied in lookup array.

Optional Parameter:

[match_type]: :match_type is limited to -1, 0, or 1, depending on the type of ‘MATCH’.
- It will be 0 for first exact match lookup value.
- 1 for the largest value < or = toour ‘lookup_value’.
- And -1 for the smallest value that is > or = toour ‘lookup_value’.

How to use MATCH Function in Excel?

MATCH formula in excel is very simple and easy to use. Let understand the working of Excel Match Formula by some MATCH Excel examples.

MATCH Excel Example #1

Consider a MATCH Excel example for exact match value. Suppose you have a data table with S.N., Name, and Dept. name and you have to find out the position of an employee whose name is ‘Tanuj’ then you can use MATCH Formula in excel with 0 match type to return the exact position of ‘Tanuj’ in table array.

= MATCH(F4,$B$4:$B$13,0) the output is 1.

MATCH Excel Example #2

Consider the MATCH Excel example for approximate match value. Suppose you have a list of values wherein you need to find out the approximate position of any value here we have searched for ‘525’ and it will return an approximate position for it.

= MATCH(E19,B19:B28,1) output will be 5.

MATCH Excel Example #3

Match in Excel support (? & *) wildcard characters search in lookup value. You can understand MATCH Formula in Excel by using the below MATCH Excel example.

=MATCH(“*”&E33,$B$33:$B$42,0) the output will be 5.

MATCH Excel with INDEX Function – Example 4

MATCH in Excel with index function is used to lookup value in table from right to left.

Suppose you have to find out the S.N. of any employee by their name then you can achieve it by using a combination of excel match index function.

=INDEX(B46:D56,MATCH(G48,C46:C56,0),1) an output will be 1.

Things to Remember About the MATCH Function in Excel

Match is not case-sensitive
- It considers tanuj and Tanuj as same value means it does not distinguish b/w lower case and upper case.
MATCH in Excel returns the #N/A error if there is no matching value is found in the lookup_array.

The Excel MATCH function returns the position value of the lookup value in the lookup_array, not the value itself.
If there are multiple match values in lookup_array then it will return first exact match value.
If match_type is 0 and lookup_value is text, then this function supports the use of wildcard characters question mark (?) and asterisk (*) in lookup_value.

You can download this MATCH Function in Excel template here – MATCH Function Excel Template

Match Excel Function