VLOOKUP function is one of the most useful Excel lookup and reference functions. The function allows users to quickly look for a value in the leftmost column of a table, and then returns a value in the same row from the column you specified.
Formula:
=VLOOKUP(Value to look-up, The range to lookup the value, the column number in the range containing the return value, Exact Match or Approximate Match – indicated as 0/false or 1/true)
Explanations:
There are four elements in the VLOOKUP function:
– Value to look-up: required, the value you need to search for, or the lookup value;
– The range to lookup the value: required, the range where the lookup value is located; to make VLOOKUP function work properly, the column with the lookup value will always be the first column in the range;
– The column number in the range containing the return value: required, the column number in the range that contains the return value, and always count from the column with the lookup value;
– Exact Match or Approximate Match – indicated as 0/false or 1/true: optionally, you can specify TRUE if you want an approximate match or FALSE if you want an exact match of the return value. Please note: if you don't specify anything, the default value will always be TRUE or approximate match.
How to use VLOOKUP
Step 1. Click the cell where you want to have the Function;
Step 2. Click the "Formula" Tab from the Ribbon;
Step 3: Click "Insert Function";
Step 4. In the Insert Function Window, type VLOOKUP in the box and click Go. VLOOKUP function will appear in the box below. Click VLOOKUP and then click OK at the bottom;
Step 5. The Function Arguments will appear;
– In the 1st box, click the cell with the lookup value;
– In the 2nd box, select the data range where the lookup value is located;
– In the 3rd box, type in the number of the column;
– In the 4th box, type in false for exact search or true for approximate search.
