Excel VLOOKUP Function

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VLOOKUP Function

The VLOOKUP function is a premade function in Excel, which allows searches across columns.

It is typed =VLOOKUP and has the following parts:

Lookup_value: Select the cell where search values will be entered.

Table_array: The table range, including all cells in the table.

Col_index_num: The data which is being looked up. The input is the number of the column, counted from the left:

Range_lookup: TRUE if numbers (1) or FALSE if text (0).

How to use the VLOOKUP function.

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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)
9. Type True (1) or False (0) (1)
10. Hit enter
11. Enter a value in the cell selected for the Lookup_value H3(7)

Let's have a look at an example!

Use the VLOOKUP function to find the Pokemon names based on their ID#:

H4 is where the search result is displayed. In this case, the Pokemons names based on their ID#.

H3 selected as lookup_value. This is the cell where the search query is entered. In this case the Pokemons ID#.

The range of the table is marked at table_array, in this example A2:E21.

The number 2 is entered as col_index_number. This is the second column from the left and is the data that is being looked up.

An illustration for selecting col_index_number 2.

Ok, so next - 1 (True) is entered as range_lookup. This is because the most left column has numbers only. If it was text, 0 (False) would have been used.

Good job! The function returns the #N/A value. This is because there have not been entered any value to the Search ID# H3.

Let us feed a value to it, type H3(7):

Have a look at that! The VLOOKUP function has successfully found the Pokemon Squirtle which has the ID# 7.

One more time, type (H3)4:

It still works! The function returned Charmanders name, which has 4 as its ID#. That's great.