Vlookup vs The Lookup Function Explained! - Excel | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

This video explains the differences between the lookup and vlookup functions in Excel, highlighting when to use each one.

Key Insights

• ↔️ The vlookup function is used to look up information on the right side, while the lookup function can look up information on the left or right side.
• 🚰 When using the vlookup function, it is important to select the correct portion of the table array starting from the column with the lookup values.
• 🗨️ The lookup function should be used when looking up information to the left of the reference column.

Transcript

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Questions & Answers

Q: What is the difference between the vlookup and lookup functions in Excel?

The vlookup function is used to look up information on the right side of the reference column, while the lookup function can look up information on either the left or right side of the reference column.

Q: How should the table array be selected when using the vlookup function?

The table array for vlookup should start from the column with the lookup values, ensuring that the first column selected is the one with the reference values.

Q: Can the vlookup function look up information to the left of the reference column?

No, the vlookup function cannot look up information to the left. For that, you should use the lookup function.

Q: What should you do if the id numbers are not in ascending order and the lookup function is not working correctly?

If the id numbers are not in order, it can cause issues with the lookup function. It is recommended to sort the id numbers in ascending order to ensure the function works correctly.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• The vlookup function is useful for looking up information on the right side, while the lookup function can look up information on the left or right side.

• Vlookup requires selecting a specific portion of the table array, starting from the column with the lookup values, while lookup can select the entire array.

• Vlookup cannot look up information to the left, so lookup should be used when looking up something to the left of the reference column.