The CHOOSE function returns a value from the list based on a specified index.
This function allows you to dynamically select data based on conditions or values in other cells.
Syntax
CHOOSE(index, value1, [value2,...])
Argument |
Description |
Permitted values |
|---|---|---|
index |
Number of the value to be selected from the list |
Integer (1, 2, 3, and so forth) or a reference to a cell with a number |
value1 |
First value in the list can contain a number, a cell reference, or a text value |
Any value (number, text, and so forth) |
[value2, ...] |
(optional) Additional values in the list |
Any value (number, text, and so forth) |
Examples of use
Use with text
=CHOOSE(A1, "First", "Second", "Third")
If the value in cell A1 is 1, the function returns “First”; if 2, it returns ‘Second’; if 3, it returns “Third.” If the value in cell A1 is not in the range [1...3], the function will return the #VALUE! error.
Use with numbers
=CHOOSE(B1, 100, 200, 300, 400)
If B1 is 1, the function will return 100; if 2, it will return 200; if 3, it will return 300; if 4, it will return 400. If the value in cell B1 is not in the range [1...4], the function will return the #VALUE! error.
Combining with other functions
=CHOOSE(COUNT(A1:A5), "One value", "Two values", "Three values", "More than three values")
This formula counts the number of non-empty cells in the range A1:A5 and returns the corresponding message depending on the number of values.
Notes
–If the index argument is less than 1 or greater than the number of values listed, the function returns the #VALUE! error.
–The maximum number of values is 254.
–Values can be of different data types (text, numbers, dates, formulas).
–This function is an alternative to the IF function for multiple conditions with numerical indexes.