Compact mode

LAMBDA vs LET vs INDEX

Table of content

Basic Classification Comparison
Usage Context Comparison
Basic Information Comparison
History Comparison
Facts Comparison

Usage Information Comparison
Technical Details Comparison
Evaluation Comparison
Ratings Comparison

Basic Classification Comparison

Function Category 📊

Primary classification of the Excel function based on its main purpose and usage domain, helps users quickly identify function types

LAMBDA

Engineering

LAMBDA belongs to the Engineering category. Excel functions designed for engineering calculations and analysis Click to see all.

LET

Engineering

LET belongs to the Engineering category. Excel functions designed for engineering calculations and analysis Click to see all.

INDEX

Lookup & Reference

INDEX belongs to the Lookup & Reference category. Excel functions for searching and referencing data across spreadsheets Click to see all.
Operation Type 🔧

Fundamental type of operation or action that the Excel function performs on its inputs

LAMBDA

Calculation

LAMBDA performs Calculation operations. Excel functions for performing various calculations Click to see all.

LET

Manipulation

LET performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways Click to see all.

INDEX

Retrieval

INDEX performs Retrieval operations. Functions specialized in fetching data from various sources Click to see all.

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

Target user groups who would benefit most from using this Excel function

For all*

Data Analysts

Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation

LAMBDA

Programmers

LAMBDA is designed for Programmers. Excel functions useful for programming and automation tasks Click to see all.

LET

Programmers

LET is designed for Programmers. Excel functions useful for programming and automation tasks Click to see all.

INDEX

Financial Professionals

INDEX is designed for Financial Professionals. Excel functions essential for financial analysis and planning Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

LAMBDA

Data Analysis

LAMBDA is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

Custom Functions

LAMBDA is used for Custom Functions. Functions that allow user-defined custom calculations Click to see all.

LET

Data Analysis

LET is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

INDEX

Data Lookup

INDEX is used for Data Lookup. Functions for finding and retrieving specific data Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

LAMBDA

Custom Function Creation

LAMBDA is known for Custom Function Creation.

LET

Named Calculations

LET is known for Named Calculations.

INDEX

Advanced Data Retrieval

INDEX is known for Advanced Data Retrieval.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

LAMBDA

Excel 365

LAMBDA was created in Excel 365. Functions available in Excel 365 subscription Click to see all.

LET

Excel 2019

LET was created in Excel 2019. Functions introduced in Excel 2019 release Click to see all.

INDEX

Excel 3.0

INDEX was created in Excel 3.0. Functions that originated in Excel 3.0 version Click to see all.
Created By 👤

Organization or team responsible for developing the function

For all*

Microsoft Excel Team

Functions officially created by the Microsoft Excel development team

Facts Comparison

Interesting Fact 💡

Unique or lesser-known information about the Excel function

LAMBDA

Brings programming concepts to Excel

LET

Enables functional programming in Excel

INDEX

Often used with MATCH function
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

LAMBDA

Like teaching Excel to speak programmer

LET

Finally gives Excel users a reason to feel like real programmers

INDEX

The function that makes VLOOKUP feel simple

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

Indicates the difficulty level and complexity of using the Excel function effectively

For all*

Advanced

Complex Excel functions for sophisticated calculations and operations

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

LAMBDA

Array

LAMBDA accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

Any

LAMBDA accepts Any as input data. Excel functions that can handle multiple types of input data Click to see all.

LET

Text

LET accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.

Number

LET accepts Number as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations Click to see all.

Boolean

LET accepts Boolean as input data. Excel functions that work with TRUE/FALSE logical values Click to see all.

INDEX

Array

INDEX accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

Range

INDEX accepts Range as input data. Excel functions that operate on cell ranges and data sets Click to see all.
Version Compatibility 💻

Indicates which Excel versions and platforms the function is compatible with < including Office 365< Excel 2019< 2016< etc.

For all*

Microsoft 365

Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform

INDEX

Excel 2019

INDEX is compatible with Excel 2019 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version Click to see all.

Excel 2016

INDEX is compatible with Excel 2016 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version Click to see all.

Excel 2013

INDEX is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version Click to see all.

Excel Online

INDEX is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform Click to see all.
Operating System 💾

Specifies the operating systems where the function can be used < including Windows< macOS< and web platforms

For all*

Windows

Excel functions optimized for Windows operating system

MacOS

Excel functions optimized for MacOS users

LAMBDA

Excel Online

LAMBDA runs on Excel Online Excel functions available in the online version of Excel Click to see all.

INDEX

Web Excel

INDEX runs on Web Excel Excel functions available in web-based versions Click to see all.
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

LAMBDA

1

LAMBDA needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

LET

2

LET needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.

INDEX

3

INDEX needs 3 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

For all*

Array

Excel functions that specifically work with array inputs for calculations

LAMBDA

Any

LAMBDA accepts Any as input types Excel functions that can process multiple types of input arguments without restrictions Click to see all.

LET

Text

LET accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

INDEX

Number

INDEX accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs Click to see all.

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

LAMBDA

Reusable Code

Excel functions with reusable code enable efficient formula implementation across different scenarios Click to see all.

Custom Functions

Functions that allow user-defined customization and operations Click to see all.

Recursive Capability

Reusable Custom Functions

Reduces Complexity

LET

Improves Formula Readability

Reduces Calculation Overhead

Excel functions optimized for reduced calculation overhead improve spreadsheet performance Click to see all.

INDEX

Powerful With MATCH

Excel functions working with MATCH enable powerful lookup and reference capabilities Click to see all.

Flexible Lookup

Excel functions with flexible lookup capabilities enable versatile data searching and matching Click to see all.

Very Flexible

Fast Performance

Powerful

Powerful Excel functions offer advanced capabilities for complex calculations and data manipulation Click to see all.

Flexible
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

LAMBDA

Steep Learning Curve

Functions that require significant time and effort to master Click to see all.

Modern Excel Only

Recent Addition

Advanced Concept

Functions that require advanced Excel knowledge and complex understanding to use effectively Click to see all.

LET

Limited Backward Compatibility

Steep Learning Curve

Functions that require significant time and effort to master Click to see all.

INDEX

Complex Syntax

Requires Understanding

Complex For Beginners

Requires Understanding Of Arrays

Learning Curve

Ratings Comparison

Ease of Use Score 📊

User-rated score for function's ease of use

LAMBDA

7

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

LET

6.5

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.

INDEX

7

User-rated score for function's ease of use (25%) Having high ease of use score means the function is more intuitive and user-friendly. Click to see all.
Versatility Score 📈

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios

LAMBDA

9.5

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

LET

9

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.

INDEX

9.5

Rating for function's adaptability to different scenarios (25%) Functions with higher versatility scores can be used in more diverse scenarios and applications. Click to see all.
Performance Score ⚙

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency

LAMBDA

9

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

LET

9.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.

INDEX

8.5

Rating for function's execution speed and efficiency (25%) Functions with higher performance scores execute faster and use system resources more efficiently. Click to see all.
Reliability Score 🛠

Rating for function's consistency and error handling

For all*

9
Score ⭐

Overall rating combining all scoring attributes

LAMBDA

8.6

The overall score for LAMBDA is 8.6. Click to see all.

LET

8.5

The overall score for LET is 8.5. Click to see all.

INDEX

8.5

The overall score for INDEX is 8.5. Click to see all.

Alternatives to LAMBDA

Known for Advanced Filtering

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LAMBDA

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Dynamic Number Series

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

⚙ performs better than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Advanced Calculations With Options

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LAMBDA

📈 is more versatile than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Basic Arithmetic Calculations

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Duplicate Removal

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Finding Most Frequent Value

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

Known for Multiple Criteria Based Average

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LAMBDA

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

Known for Counting Numeric Cells

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

🛠 is more reliable than LAMBDA

⭐ is rated higher than LAMBDA

Known for Advanced Text Combining

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LAMBDA

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA

Known for Multiple Condition Sum

🔢 needs fewer arguments than LAMBDA

📊 is easier to use than LAMBDA