How to use the VLOOKUP function in Excel

Aug 13, 2023

Learn how to use the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel. This tutorial demonstrates how to use Excel VLOOKUP with an easy to follow example and takes you step-by-step through the different options when entering your formula.

VLOOKUP Function (and sample data):
https://www.techonthenet.com/excel/fo…

Excel Tutorials:
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Content

0.02 -> VLOOKUP is one of Excel's most powerful Lookup functions

4.02 -> If your data is organized into vertical columns, you can use the VLOOKUP function

8.6 -> to search for a value in the first column of your data table

11.98 -> and return a corresponding value from another column

15.38 -> The easiest way to understand this function is to look at an example

19.72 -> So let's get started

22.06 -> Here we have a table of data containing order information

26.1 -> We can use VLOOKUP to locate a product based on a particular Order ID value

31.84 -> To get started, let's begin by entering the VLOOKUP command

36.58 -> As you can see, the VLOOKUP function takes 4 parameters

41.36 -> The first parameter we will enter is the value that we are trying to locate in the first column of the table

48.1 -> In our example, we want to search for Order ID number 10251

54.02 -> The second parameter we will need to enter is the table or source of the data VLOOKUP will use

60.94 -> The range provided must include both the first column

64.62 -> that will be searched for our first parameter value

67.24 -> and the column containing our hopeful result

70.28 -> You will provide either a range of cells or a named range for this parameter

75.38 -> For example, we will enter the range A1:B6

80.3 -> The third parameter we must enter is the position number in the table where the return value can be found

87.08 -> A value of 1 indicates the first column in the table, a value of 2 indicates the second column and so on

94.36 -> Since we are looking for the name of a product, we will enter a 2 which represent cells B1:B6

103.24 -> Finally and most importantly is VLOOKUP's fourth parameter

107.72 -> This parameter determines whether an exact match

110.9 -> or an approximate match will be done when looking for the first parameter

114.98 -> A value of FALSE means the VLOOKUP is looking for an exact match

119.86 -> A value of TRUE means that an approximate or close match will be returned

125.4 -> Unless you have a specific reason for looking for an approximate match

129.72 -> you should always use FALSE to return an exact match

133.368 -> otherwise the VLOOKUP could return some unexpected results

137.4 -> Now that we have entered all of VLOOKUP's parameters, let's complete the command to examine the result

143.74 -> You should see the product name "Pears" appear

146.203 -> "Pears" is the product name that corresponds to the Order ID number 10251 that we searched for

153.62 -> This covers a simple example of how to use Excel's VLOOKUP function

158.52 -> if you would like to see more VLOOKUP examples

161.32 -> or would like to download the sample data we used for this tutorial

164.74 -> please visit our website at TechOnTheNet.com

168.06 -> If you found our tutorial helpful, please leave a like on this video

172.22 -> and don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel for more great Excel tutorials

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODZfwD39gGE