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CHOOSE vs SWITCH: selecting a value by index or match in Excel and Sheets
Excel & Google Sheets
=CHOOSE(A2,"Low","Medium","High")✓
Verified example
Computed by a real spreadsheet engine on the sample data below.
| Level |
| 2 |
=CHOOSE(A2,"Low","Medium","High")→Medium
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Step by step
- 1CHOOSE(2, "Low", "Medium", "High") returns the 2nd option — "Medium".
- 2SWITCH(grade, "A", "Excellent", "B", "Good") matches a value rather than a position.
- 3Use CHOOSE when you have a 1-based index; use SWITCH to replace a chain of equality IFs.
Tips
- SWITCH takes an optional final default value for the no-match case.
- CHOOSE can return ranges, not just text — useful for switching which column a formula reads.
Need it for your exact data?
Describe your columns in plain English and get the precise formula for your sheet, with the right Excel or Sheets syntax.
Frequently asked
Is SWITCH better than nested IF?
For testing one expression against several exact values, yes — SWITCH is shorter and easier to read than nested IFs. For ranges or comparisons, use IFS.