The VLOOKUP function is one of the most useful when pulling information from an Excel database. Here's how it works and how you can start using it in your work.

Excel's VLOOKUP function lets you find data in columns in reference to the first column. Learn how to create it manually or build it easily.

The lookup function in Excel can save you a lot of time and effort, but only if you actually know how to use its many forms and alterations.

Excel tables help manage dynamic data ranges, adjusting automatically as data changes. The function helper in Excel provides a step-by-step guide to entering VLOOKUP arguments.

As a long-term Excel enthusiast, I have always enjoyed using VLOOKUP, one of Excel's best-known lookup functions. However, Microsoft's introduction of XLOOKUP in 2019 changed everything.

Much like other functions, however, the trick to using VLOOKUP effectively is knowing what commands and values to use in what order. Again, much like programming languages. Though in this instance ...

You probably use VLOOKUP() function to find exact matches in Microsoft Excel, but you can also find the closest value when you don't know the exact value.

You use these functions when you want to find values based on the value in a corresponding cell. Thanks to the newish dynamic array function XLOOKUP (), you now have more power and less confusion.

Kelly L. Williams, CPA, Ph.D., explains how to use XLOOKUP, a new function for Excel 365 users that essentially replaces VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP.