The main difference between VLOOKUP and LOOKUP functions is the VLOOKUP is limited to vertical lookups only and the LOOKUP function has cross functionality which means that it can perform both vertical lookups and horizontal lookups.
When you need to find information in a large spreadsheet, or you are always looking for the same kind of information, use the VLOOKUP function. VLOOKUP works a lot like a phone book, where you start with the piece of data you know, like someone's name, in order to find out what you don't know, like their phone number.
XLOOKUP can look for values to the left and right of the lookup array, while VLOOKUP is limited to only looking for values to the right of the lookup value column. XLOOKUP allows you to customize text when a valid match is not found, while VLOOKUP only shows you an #N/A (error sign).
The superior alternative to VLOOKUP is INDEX MATCH. While VLOOKUP works fine in most cases, it tends to reveal flaws when you start using it in large and complex sheets. The INDEX MATCH formula is actually two different functions; INDEX and MATCH. array is range of cells or an array constant.
VLOOKUP can only be used for looking up values from Left to Right. INDEX MATCH can look up the values from Left to Right and Right to Left. VLOOKUP only can lookup through vertical lines, i.e., columns, and not through rows. INDEX MATCH can lookup values through rows as well as columns.
While VLookup is great for searching for fields where you know the row, Index Match is much more flexible as you can search by row, or by column, or by both. In these situations its best to use Index Match instead of VLookup.
If backward compatibility is not needed, XLOOKUP is better than regular INDEX and MATCH in several ways: XLOOKUP is simpler, has safe defaults, has built-in error handling, and is very flexible.
The XLOOKUP Function. The XLOOKUP function is an improved version of various Excel LOOKUP functions. Use it to search a specific range or an array of a specified value in a worksheet, both vertically and horizontally. And, it returns the corresponding value in another column.
INDEX-MATCH in Two Formulas, Sorted Data
In other words, using the two-formula INDEX-MATCH approach against sorted data can be significantly faster than using either VLOOKUP or the one-formula INDEX-MATCH technique, and is best practice.
Interestingly, there are two ways you can use the VLOOKUP function; exact match and approximate match.
VLOOKUP is an obsolete function inherited from Lotus-123. There is much better in Excel, more powerful and less limited, it is INDEX/MATCH. INDEX/MATCH replaces all lookups functions (VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP and LOOKUP).
There are two forms of LOOKUP in Excel: Vector and Array.
VLOOKUP is a function that searches for the value you specify. The result returns a matching value from another column. To be more technical, you choose a range, and VLOOKUP looks up the value in the first column. The result it returns is a value from the same row of another column.
The VLOOKUP function consists of three required arguments, in the following order: lookup value, table array, and column index number. The lookup value is the value for which you want to find matching data and must appear in the first column of the lookup table; it can be a value, a text string, or a cell reference.
There are two kinds of lookup operations: Datacap database lookups and third-party lookups.
Type the formula in the first cell, press Ctrl + Shift + Enter, and then drag it down to a few more cells. Select several adjacent cells in a single column (F1:F11 in the screenshot below), type the formula and press Ctrl + Shift + Enter to complete it.
Yes! The first reason has to do with compatibility. XLOOKUP is available on Microsoft 365 and Excel 2021. That means if your users are on Excel 2019 or earlier, XLOOKUP is not an option for them.
Indeed, the XLOOKUP function searches a range or an array, and returns an item corresponding to the first match it finds. If you want to return multiple instances match list using formula, we recommend using the INDEX, SMALL and ROW functions. You can change the data range based on your requirement.