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Lookup Formulas

This lecture covers Excel lookup functions: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP, teaching how to search and retrieve data from tables. VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP are used for vertical and horizontal lookups respectively, while XLOOKUP is a more advanced function that allows searching in any direction. Key tips include always using FALSE for exact matches in VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, and utilizing XLOOKUP for its simplicity and flexibility.

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4 views4 pages

Lookup Formulas

This lecture covers Excel lookup functions: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP, teaching how to search and retrieve data from tables. VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP are used for vertical and horizontal lookups respectively, while XLOOKUP is a more advanced function that allows searching in any direction. Key tips include always using FALSE for exact matches in VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP, and utilizing XLOOKUP for its simplicity and flexibility.

Uploaded by

hayaakkad79
Copyright
© All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

📊 Lecture 4

Excel Lookup Functions


VLOOKUP · HLOOKUP · XLOOKUP

📊 Learning Goal: By the end of this lecture, you'll be able to search and retrieve data
from any Excel table using the right lookup function.

📊 VLOOKUP — Vertical Lookup

📊 What it does: Scans a column from top to bottom to find your value, then returns data
from another column in the same row.

=VLOOKUP( lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num,


[range_lookup] )

Parameter What it means


lookup_value The value you are searching for (e.g., a student's name)
table_array The full data range to search in (e.g., A2:B10)
col_index_num Which column number to return the result from (1 = first column)
range_lookup FALSE = Exact match (almost always use this!) | TRUE =
Approximate match

📊 Try it — Student Grades Table

A B
Name Grade
Ahmed 90
Sara 85
Ali 95

📊 Formula: =VLOOKUP("Sara", A2:B4, 2, FALSE) ✅ Result: 85

📊 Quick Tip: Always use FALSE for exact match — using TRUE can return wrong results unless
your data is sorted!
📊 HLOOKUP — Horizontal Lookup

📊 What it does: Scans a row from left to right to find your value, then returns data from
another row in the same column.

=HLOOKUP( lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num,


[range_lookup] )

Parameter What it means


lookup_value The value you are searching for (e.g., a subject name)
table_array The full data range to search in (e.g., A1:C2)
row_index_num Which row number to return the result from (1 = first row)
range_lookup FALSE = Exact match | TRUE = Approximate match

📊 Try it — Subject Scores Table

A B C
Math English Science
90 85 95

📊 Formula: =HLOOKUP("English", A1:C2, 2, FALSE) ✅ Result: 85

📊 Quick Tip: HLOOKUP is perfect when your categories are in a header row and data is below
them.

📊 XLOOKUP — Advanced Lookup


📊 What it does: The modern, flexible upgrade — searches in any direction and doesn't
require the lookup column to be first!

=XLOOKUP( lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array )

Parameter What it means


lookup_value The value you are searching for
lookup_array The column or row to search in
return_array The column or row to return results from

📊 Try it — Student ID Lookup

A (ID) B (Name)

101 Ahmed

102 Sara

📊 Formula: =XLOOKUP("Sara", B2:B3, A2:A3) ✅ Result: 102

📊 Quick Tip: XLOOKUP is available in Excel 365 and Excel 2019+. Use it whenever you can — it's
simpler and more powerful!

⚡ Comparison

📊 VLOOKUP 📊 HLOOKUP 📊 XLOOKUP


Searches columns (top → Searches rows (left → right) Searches any direction
bottom)
Medium complexity Medium complexity Easiest to use
Older Excel versions Older Excel versions Excel 365 / 2019+
Column must be 1st Row must be 1st Lookup anywhere

📊 Remember It This Way!


VLOOKUP → Vertical (columns go DOWN like a wall)
HLOOKUP → Horizontal (rows go ACROSS like a horizon)
XLOOKUP → eXtra powerful — goes ANY direction!
Good luck! 🚀

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