Spreadsheet users often rely on INDEX-MATCH and VLOOKUP to pull values from reference tables. In SQL interviews, this usually maps to understanding how lookup logic translates into table design and query patterns.
Explain how INDEX-MATCH works in spreadsheets, why many analysts prefer it over VLOOKUP, and how the same problem is typically solved in SQL. Your answer should cover:
INDEX and MATCH each doINDEX-MATCH is more flexible than VLOOKUPVLOOKUP hasThe interviewer is looking for a practical conceptual explanation, not spreadsheet syntax memorization. Focus on lookup direction, column-position dependence, maintainability, and how SQL joins are the database equivalent of robust lookup logic.