What is VLOOKUP in Excel?

What is VLOOKUP in Excel? VLOOKUP stands for Vertical Lookup. As the name specifies, VLOOKUP is a built-in Excel function that helps you look for a specified value by searching for it vertically across the sheet.


What is VLOOKUP in Excel used for?

Use VLOOKUP when you need to find things in a table or a range by row. For example, look up a price of an automotive part by the part number, or find an employee name based on their employee ID.

Is VLOOKUP a formula?

The VLOOKUP function is a built-in function in Excel that is categorized as a Lookup/Reference Function. It can be used as a worksheet function (WS) in Excel. As a worksheet function, the VLOOKUP function can be entered as part of a formula in a cell of a worksheet.


What is VLOOKUP step by step?

How to use VLOOKUP in Excel
  1. Step 1: Organize the data. ...
  2. Step 2: Tell the function what to lookup. ...
  3. Step 3: Tell the function where to look. ...
  4. Step 4: Tell Excel what column to output the data from. ...
  5. Step 5: Exact or approximate match.


What is VLOOKUP in simple words?

VLOOKUP stands for Vertical Lookup. As the name specifies, VLOOKUP is a built-in Excel function that helps you look for a specified value by searching for it vertically across the sheet.


Vlookup Function in Excel for Beginners



How does VLOOKUP work for dummies?

VLOOKUP is a function that searches for the value you specify. The result returns a matching value from another column. To be more technical, you choose a range, and VLOOKUP looks up the value in the first column. The result it returns is a value from the same row of another column.

How do I do a VLOOKUP in Excel example?

How to use the VLOOKUP function.
  1. Select a cell ( H4 )
  2. Type =VLOOKUP.
  3. Double click the VLOOKUP command.
  4. Select the cell where search value will be entered ( H3 )
  5. Type ( , )
  6. Mark table range ( A2:E21 )
  7. Type ( , )
  8. Type the number of the column, counted from the left ( 2 )


Is VLOOKUP difficult?

VLOOKUP can only use one lookup value. If you need to use two, it's difficult to set up and prone to error. Case is disregarded, so you can't parse on that. In addition, VLOOKUP uses an approximate match as default instead of exact match, so you may get inaccurate data and not know it, especially in large files.


How long does it take to learn VLOOKUP?

Advanced excel contains topics like VLOOKUP, Macros etc. These topics are pretty time consuming but easy to learn. So, it all depends on you. If you practice every day and dedicate around 2-3 hours every day to learn the concepts, then you can learn it within four weeks.

Should I put VLOOKUP on my resume?

Your examples should be important to the position and not basic or common functions. For example, you might say “Advanced in MS Excel including PivotTables, VLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH, and Data Tables”. When you specify your Excel skills, it is best to list this under the Additional section of your resume.

Do accountants use VLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP are two of the most useful Excel functions for accountants. These functions let you search a table of data and give all the appropriate information for an individual set of data based on only one part of it.


Is there a better formula than VLOOKUP?

Simply put, the LOOKUP Function is better than VLOOKUP, as it's less restrictive in its use. It was only introduced by Microsoft in 2016, so it's still new to most users. Benefits of LOOKUP vs VLOOKUP: Users can search for data both vertically (columns) and horizontally (rows)

What is pivot table used for?

A PivotTable is an interactive way to quickly summarize large amounts of data. You can use a PivotTable to analyze numerical data in detail, and answer unanticipated questions about your data. A PivotTable is especially designed for: Querying large amounts of data in many user-friendly ways.

What are common errors with VLOOKUP?

Common VLOOKUP Errors
  • VLOOKUP #NA error. When VLOOKUP formula cannot find a match, then this error displays, meaning “not available.” But it is always not correct that the lookup value is actually not available. ...
  • VLOOKUP #VALUE error. ...
  • VLOOKUP #REF error. ...
  • VLOOKUP returning incorrect results.


What formula replaces VLOOKUP?

XLOOKUP was released by Microsoft in 2019 and is meant as the replacement for VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, INDEX/MATCH functions.

What formula is better than VLOOKUP?

Simply put, the LOOKUP Function is better than VLOOKUP, as it's less restrictive in its use. It was only introduced by Microsoft in 2016, so it's still new to most users. Benefits of LOOKUP vs VLOOKUP: Users can search for data both vertically (columns) and horizontally (rows)

What is the alternative formula for VLOOKUP?

#1 – LOOKUP Function as VLOOKUP Alternatives

The lookup function is better than VLOOKUP because it is less restrictive. It was first introduced in MS 2016. You can search data both vertically and horizontally. It also allows left-to-right and right-to-left lookup.


What's the difference between VLOOKUP and Xlookup?

The XLOOKUP defaults to an exact match where the VLOOKUP defaults to an approximate match. As the exact match is used most often, this setting would make the XLOOKUP more effective. On top of this, the XLOOKUP offers an additional option of an approximate match returning the next larger value.

What is the most useful formula in Excel?

Sum. The SUM function in Excel is among the most commonly used formulas. This formula adds the values ​​of the cells within it.

What is the most powerful formula in Excel?

Excel Formulas and Functions
  • HOUR, MINUTE, SECOND. ...
  • DATEDIF. ...
  • VLOOKUP. ...
  • HLOOKUP. ...
  • IF Formula. ...
  • INDEX-MATCH. ...
  • COUNTIF. The function COUNTIF() is used to count the total number of cells within a range that meet the given condition. ...
  • SUMIF. The SUMIF() function adds the cells specified by a given condition or criteria.


Which function is best for lookup in Excel?

Use LOOKUP, one of the lookup and reference functions, when you need to look in a single row or column and find a value from the same position in a second row or column.

Is VLOOKUP outdated?

VLOOKUP is an obsolete function inherited from Lotus-123. There is much better in Excel, more powerful and less limited, it is INDEX/MATCH. INDEX/MATCH replaces all lookups functions (VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP and LOOKUP).

Which is faster Xlookup or VLOOKUP?

In our table, the VLOOKUP formula calculated in 2.3 seconds, INDEX MATCH in 2.6 seconds, OFFSET and MATCH in 2.7 seconds, and XLOOKUP in 3.3 seconds. As you see, the calculation speed increases significantly compared to ranges. Interestingly enough, Excel tables are very fast even with regular references.


How do I do a VLOOKUP with two criteria?

VLOOKUP with two criteria. A usual VLOOKUP formula won't work in this situation because it returns the first found match based on a single lookup value that you specify. To overcome this, you can add a helper column and concatenate the values from two lookup columns (Customer and Product) there.