How to Use MATCH Function | Microsoft Excel

MATCH function is a lesser known function. Match function will return a position of the specific value given by you from a row and a column.

Syntax of MATCH Function

=MATCH(lookup_value,lookup_array,[match_type])

Arguments For MATCH Function

lookup_value: it is a value which you want to match in lookup_array

lookup_array: it is an array in which lookup_value is search

match_type: value is -1,0 and 1. How lookup_value searched in lookupo_array. the default value is 1

Match Type Description

-1 Describes: Match function finds the smallest value which is greater than or equal to the lookup_value

0 Describes: Match function finds the value which is exactly equal to lookup_value

1 Describes: Match function finds the largest value which is lesser or equal to the lookup_value

Behavior of MATCH Function

Here I want to know the position of March month

So I used the formula

=MATCH("March",B4:B9,)

March:  the value we want to know the position

B4:B9: Range of the data

After using this formula result we get is "3" because March is in the 3rd position in the data

Usage of MATCH Function

To know the position of the given value

Returnof MATCH Function

The position of the value

Note

You can not select more than one column for the data

Error Values of MATCH Function

Error Commands	Description
#NA	Lookup_value is not available in the range If you select more than one column or row for a data range