how to do a vlookup in excel

To do a VLOOKUP in Excel, follow these steps:

1. Prepare your data : Ensure your data is in a table format where the lookup value is in the leftmost column of the range.
2. Select the cell for the result : Click the cell where you want the VLOOKUP result to appear.
3. Enter the VLOOKUP formula : Type =VLOOKUP( to start the formula.
4. Input the arguments :
   • lookup_value : The value you want to search for (e.g., a cell reference).
   • table_array : The range of cells containing the data, starting with the column that has the lookup value.
   • col_index_num : The column number in the range from which to return the value (counting from the left).
   • range_lookup (optional): Use FALSE for an exact match or TRUE for an approximate match (default is TRUE).
5. Close the parentheses and press Enter : Complete the formula with a closing parenthesis ) and hit Enter.

Example formula:

=VLOOKUP(A2, B2:D10, 3, FALSE)

This looks up the value in cell A2 within the range B2:D10, returns the value from the 3rd column of that range, and looks for an exact match

Key points:

• The lookup value must be in the first column of the range.
• Use FALSE for exact matches, especially with text.
• The column index number counts from the leftmost column of the selected range.
• You can drag the formula down to apply it to multiple rows.

This method helps you find data in large tables efficiently by searching vertically in columns