CHOOSE
The CHOOSE function returns a value from a list based on a specified index number. It is useful for retrieving a specific value from a list using a given position.
Example explanation
Cell B2 uses the CHOOSE function to display a corresponding day of the week based on the index value in A2.
Syntax 🔗
=CHOOSE(index_number, value1, value2, ...)
index_number | The position of the value to return. Must be an integer between 1 and 254. |
value1 | value2, ..., List of values from which to choose. Can be constants, cell references, or other formulas. |
About CHOOSE 🔗
Use the CHOOSE function in Excel to extract a specific value from a list based on its position. This function allows you to select and return values using a numerical index. It's particularly useful when dealing with categorical data or when you need to retrieve specific options from a list.
The CHOOSE function works by taking an index number and a list of values as arguments. It returns the value that corresponds to the given index from the list. This provides an efficient way to access specific items from a range of options, helping with data manipulation and analysis in spreadsheets.
The CHOOSE function is straightforward to use. Simply specify the index position and provide the list of values to dynamically retrieve the desired value without complicated calculations.
Additionally, the CHOOSE function can handle different types of values, including text, numbers, or references to other cells or ranges. This flexibility makes it applicable to various scenarios in spreadsheet management and analysis.
Examples 🔗
Suppose you have a list of colors in cells A1 to A5 (Red, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange), and you want to retrieve the color at the third position. The CHOOSE formula would be:
=CHOOSE(3, A1, A2, A3, A4, A5)
This will return 'Green', which is the color at the third position in the list.
Suppose you have a dataset containing month names in cells B1 to B12, and you want to retrieve the name of the month in the seventh position. The CHOOSE formula would be:
=CHOOSE(7, B1, B2, B3, B4, B5, B6, B7, B8, B9, B10, B11, B12)
This will return the month name at the seventh position in the list.
Notes 🔗
Use the CHOOSE function with an index number that is an integer between 1 and 254. If the index number is outside this range or is non-numeric, an error will occur. The CHOOSE function works well when the list of values is static. If you change the values, you may need to update the function arguments.
Questions 🔗
No, the index_number argument of the CHOOSE function must be a numeric value between 1 and 254. Non-numeric values or index numbers outside this range will result in an error.
What happens if the index number provided to the CHOOSE function is outside the range of available values?If the index number provided to the CHOOSE function falls outside the range of available values (1 to n, where n is the number of values), the function will return an error.
Can the values in the list provided to the CHOOSE function be dynamic and change based on other conditions?While the CHOOSE function allows for dynamic values in the list, changing the values may necessitate adjusting the function arguments accordingly to ensure efficient retrieval of the desired value.