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The lookup function in Excel is used to find the closest match of any one row or column based on the selection criteria, and it how to Use Lookup in MS Excel returns the value from the corresponding any one row or column. This works the same way as VLOOKUP, but the main benefit of the Lookup function is that it looks at both rows and columns to find the value of the lookup range.
It gets a value from one row or column or from an array. It can be used in Excel as a worksheet function (WS). This tutorial will show you how to use Excel’s Lookup feature and give you some examples to help you decide which Lookup function is best for a given situation.
How to Use Lookup in MS Excel
The VLOOKUP function in Excel is a powerful function used to lookup data in a table organized vertically. It looks down the left column of a range to find a value. Syntax:
- Click on the cell that you’d like the VLOOKUP formula to be calculated. In this case, the cell is C3.
- Click on the formula at the top of the screen, and in the lookup and reference, select VLOOKUP.
- Select the VLOOKUP option. The argument window will appear.
- Click the OK button.
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Advantages of Lookup Function
- Very flexible — use XLOOKUP to find lookup value in any lookup range, row or column.
- Match modes can specifiy an exact match or approximate match type
- Search mode can find first item or last item (reverse search) that matches
- Binary search mode for lists sorted in ascending or descending order
- By using 2 XLOOKUP functions can find both the row and the column
- Can return multiple cells using SPILL
- Can use multiple criteria
- Combine * (asterisk) or ? (question mark) with ~ (tilde) to find as a character, or use them as a wildcard match for partial matches.
- Result is a cell or range, so there is the option to use the address in another formula such as SUM, instead of simply returning the value from the cell(s).
- These are not volatile functions, so they have less impact on calculations in a large workbook
FAQ
What are the 3 rules for VLOOKUP?
The VLOOKUP function needs three arguments, which are the lookup value, the table array, and the column index number, in that order. The lookup value is the value for which you want to find matching data. It must be in the first column of the lookup table and can be a value, a text string, or a cell reference.
How does LOOKUP work?
What Is a LOOKUP Function? Lookup functions in Excel mean referencing a cell to match values in another row or column against the cell and thereby retrieving the corresponding results from the respective rows and columns.