{"id":170,"date":"2014-09-22T14:20:36","date_gmt":"2014-09-22T12:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/?p=170"},"modified":"2024-05-20T21:40:05","modified_gmt":"2024-05-20T19:40:05","slug":"vlookup-function-introduction-excel","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/","title":{"rendered":"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"after-post-box\">\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_57_1 counter-flat ez-toc-counter ez-toc-transparent ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li><a href=\"#\" class=\"scroll-to-download\">Free Practice Workbook<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/#VLOOKUP_Function_Introduction\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\">VLOOKUP Function: Introduction<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/#Lookup_value\" title=\"Lookup_value\">Lookup_value<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/#Table_array\" title=\"Table_array\">Table_array<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/#Col_index_num\" title=\"Col_index_num\">Col_index_num<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-function-introduction-excel\/#Range_lookup\" title=\"Range_lookup\">Range_lookup<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VLOOKUP_Function_Introduction\"><\/span>VLOOKUP Function: Introduction<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>What does it do?<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>Searches for a value in the first column of a table array and returns a value in the same row from another column (to the right) in the table array.<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>Formula breakdown:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>=VLOOKUP(<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">lookup_value<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">table_array<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #008000;\">col_index_num<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">[range_lookup]<\/span>)<\/p>\n<p><em><strong>What it means:<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<p>=VLOOKUP(<span style=\"color: #0000ff;\">this value<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">in this list<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #008000;\">and get me value in this column<\/span>, <span style=\"color: #ff00ff;\">Exact Match\/FALSE\/0]<\/span>)<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>Excel`s\u00a0<strong>VLOOKUP<\/strong> function is arguably the most used function in Excel but can also be the most tricky one to understand.\u00a0 I will show you<a href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/blog\/vlookup-example-with-drop-down-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> a <strong>VLOOKUP<\/strong> example<\/a> and in a few steps you will be able to extract values from a table and use them to do your custom reports and analysis.<\/p>\n<p>You will be using VLOOKUP with confidence after this tutorial!<\/p>\n<div class=\"after-post-box\">\n<p class=\"line-two\"><a class=\"IRPP_minimalist icon-download button small\" href=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup_Intro1.xlsx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-leadbox=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup_Intro1.xlsx\" data-leadbox-id=\"147284833f72a2:12f08263ab46dc\"><span class=\"ctaText px-3 text-capitalize\">Download excel workbook<i class=\"fa fa-download\"><\/i><\/span><span class=\"postTitle px-3\">Vlookup_Intro1.xlsx<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"line-two\">\n<\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><strong>STEP 1:\u00a0<\/strong><\/span>We need to enter the <strong>VLOOKUP<\/strong> function in a blank cell:<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(<\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9863\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup1.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"1188\" height=\"305\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup1.png 1188w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup1-300x77.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup1-1024x263.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup1-768x197.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1188px) 100vw, 1188px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff0000;\">STEP 2:<\/span> <\/strong>The <strong>VLOOKUP<\/strong> arguments:<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lookup_value\"><\/span><em>Lookup_value<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>What is the value that you want to look for?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>In our first example, it will be Laptop, so select the Item name<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(<\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9864\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup2.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"1055\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup2.png 1055w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup2-300x61.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup2-1024x207.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup2-768x155.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1055px) 100vw, 1055px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Table_array\"><\/span><em>Table_array<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>What is the table or range that contains your data? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Make sure to select the stock list table so that our VLOOKUP formula will search here<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(G15, <\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9865\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup3.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"1026\" height=\"196\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup3.png 1026w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup3-300x57.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup3-1024x196.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup3-768x147.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1026px) 100vw, 1026px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Ensure that you press <strong>F4<\/strong> so that you can lock the table range.<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(G15, <\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9866\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup4.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"998\" height=\"209\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup4.png 998w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup4-300x63.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup4-768x161.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Col_index_num\"><\/span><em>Col_index_num<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>What is the column that you want to retrieve the value from? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Since we want to get the price, our price is on the 2nd column of our source data<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(G15, $B$14:$D$17, <\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9867\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup5.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"998\" height=\"216\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup5.png 998w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup5-300x65.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup5-768x166.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 998px) 100vw, 998px\" \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Range_lookup\"><\/span><em>Range_lookup<\/em><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>What kind of matching do you need? <\/strong><\/p>\n<p>We want an exact match of the Laptop text so make sure FALSE is selected.<br \/>\n<code>=VLOOKUP(G15, $B$14:$D$17, 2, <\/code><br \/>\n<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9868\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup6.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"973\" height=\"237\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup6.png 973w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup6-300x73.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup6-768x187.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 973px) 100vw, 973px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Apply the same formula to the rest of the cells by dragging the lower right corner downwards.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"aligncenter size-full wp-image-9869\" title=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" src=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup7.png\" alt=\"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction\" width=\"893\" height=\"217\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup7.png 893w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup7-300x73.png 300w, https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/09\/Vlookup7-768x187.png 768w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 893px) 100vw, 893px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>You now have all of the results!<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&nbsp; VLOOKUP Function: Introduction &nbsp; What does it do? Searches for a value in the first column of a table array and returns a value in the same row from another column (to the right) in the table array. Formula breakdown: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]) What it means: =VLOOKUP(this value, in this list, and get [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15073,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"cos_headline_score":0,"cos_seo_score":0,"cos_headline_text":"VLOOKUP Function: Introduction","cos_headline_has_been_analyzed":false,"cos_last_analyzed_headline":[],"om_disable_all_campaigns":false},"categories":[3,11,276],"tags":[43,44],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=170"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/170\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=170"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=170"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myexcelonline.com\/meo-staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=170"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}