{"id":153833,"date":"2023-12-06T11:54:00","date_gmt":"2023-12-06T11:54:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.henryharvin.com\/blog\/?p=153833"},"modified":"2024-12-11T12:40:58","modified_gmt":"2024-12-11T12:40:58","slug":"a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-use-vlookup-in-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.henryharvin.com\/blog\/a-step-by-step-guide-on-how-to-use-vlookup-in-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"A Step-by-Step Guide on How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

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Excel is a vital tool that is widely used in every business operation. It can easily format, arrange, calculate, analyze and organize data in a spreadsheet. Vlookup, which stands for “Vertical, look up” is an Excel built-in function. It is used to locate (look up) a value from one column of data and get the corresponding or related value from another column. For instance, if you have a product list with prices, you can easily find the price of any item of your choice. See below a step-by-step guide on how to Use VLOOKUP in Excel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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A Step by step guide on how to use vlookup in excel.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

In easy words, the VLOOKUP function instructs Excel to “look for this item of information (for example, excel books) in this data set (a table) and give me some corresponding information about it (for example, the price of the excel books)”. Using the VLOOKUP function we can easily get to know the price of excel books. Learn below how to do this using the function VLOOKUP in Excel<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Understanding VLOOKUP in Excel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
  • VLOOKUP, as its name suggests, is an Excel function used to look for a specific value by searching for it vertically in the entire sheet. The first column of a table is searched by the VLOOKUP function to find a value. Further, it returns the value in the same row in the index number position.<\/li>
  • A built-in Excel function known as VLOOKUP is classified as a Lookup\/Reference Function. Moreover, Excel has a spreadsheet tool for it (WS). Additionally, as a worksheet function, the VLOOKUP function can be included in a formula in a worksheet cell.<\/li>
  • VLOOKUP in Excel may sound complicated, but you will find out that it is a very easy and useful tool once you try it. Moreover, look at the Cadbury Dairy Milk example below to understand manually how VLOOKUP works. <\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n

    While looking at the price list,  I want to buy a Dairy milk crackle roast almond chocolate.  I also know that I want a packet of 42 gms.  Now I need to determine the price to make sure I have enough money in my purse to pay for this tempting chocolate. \ud83d\ude42<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \"example
    manually understanding the steps involved in VLOOKUP in excel<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

    Indeed, this was a small example. However, in a large company, if you have ever manually searched for data in Excel, you are aware of how difficult and irritating it can be. Thus, we can quickly retrieve data on a spreadsheet and return results using functions like VLOOKUP. Everything from a simple list of names to interactive financial models can benefit from this. Lookup Formulas can help us save a lot of time and make the most of Excel’s full potential. Every Excel user can profit from these fantastic features.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    VLOOKUP Formula in Excel<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    The VLOOKUP formula in excel above in easy words is instructing you to “search for a piece of information, in the following region, and provide some corresponding data from another column,” <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    The following arguments are used by the VLOOKUP function:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Lookup value (mandatory parameter) – The value that we want to search up in the first column of a table is specified by the Lookup value.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Table array (mandatory parameter) – The data array that is to be searched is the table array. The leftmost column of this array is where the VLOOKUP function looks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Col index num (mandatory argument) -It specifies the column within the given table array from which you wish to retrieve a value. It is an integer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    If the lookup(elective argument) -The value is not exactly matched by the function’s return value, range lookup (optional argument) specifies what the function should return. When the parameter is set to TRUE or FALSE, the following results:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    TRUE – Approximation match, meaning use the closest match below the lookup value if an exact match cannot be obtained.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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