VLOOKUP
Searches the first column of a table, and returns from a column you choose by number.
How it’s written
VLOOKUP(find, table, column_number, FALSE)Example
| A | B | C | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Code | Product | Price |
| 2 | P-10 | Lamp | 45 |
| 3 | P-20 | Desk | 210 |
| 4 | P-30 | Chair | 120 |
=VLOOKUP("P-30",A2:C4,2,FALSE)Result: Chair
Finds P-30 and returns the table’s second column.
Try it yourself
Open a live sheet with this example, and type the formula yourself. It takes a moment to load.
Worth knowing
Always finish with FALSE unless you specifically want the nearest match in a sorted list.
Practice it properly
VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH gives you real tasks, with your formulas tested on data you haven’t seen.