Microsoft Excel is widely recognized as an incredibly powerful tool for data analysis and management within a spreadsheet. If you are working in a corporate learning Excel, and mastering lookup functions is a must. 

Among its vast array of excel functions, VLOOKUP and LOOKUP are two commonly used functions that aid in retrieving data from a table or range.

However, they may seem similar, but there are significant differences between them in terms of functionality and application.

In this blog post, we’ll delve into the nuances of VLOOKUP and LOOKUP functions to understand their distinctions and when to use each.

VLOOKUP Function:

VLOOKUP, short for Vertical Lookup, is mainly employed to vertically search for a value in the first column of a table and fetch a corresponding value from the specified column in the same row. The syntax for VLOOKUP function is as follows:

VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

• lookup_value: The specified value to locate within the initial column of the table.
• table_array: The table or range of cells containing the data.
• col_index_num: The specific column in the table to extract the value from.
• range_lookup: A non-compulsory parameter that indicates whether to locate an exact or close match. When set to TRUE or left blank, it will search for the nearest match; when set to FALSE, it will search for an exact match.

Key Features of VLOOKUP:

• Vertical Search: VLOOKUP searches vertically, meaning it looks for the value in the first column of the table.
• Exact or Approximate Match: Depending on the range_lookup argument, VLOOKUP can perform either an exact or approximate match.
• Single Column Retrieval: It retrieves data from a specified column corresponding to the matched value.

LOOKUP Function:

The LOOKUP function, unlike VLOOKUP, is more versatile as it can perform both vertical and horizontal searches within a single column or row. Its syntax varies based on its usage:

For a Vector Lookup (vertical or horizontal):

LOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_vector, [result_vector])

For an Array Lookup:

LOOKUP(lookup_value, array)

• lookup_value: The value to search for in the lookup_vector or array.
• lookup_vector: The range that contains the values to be searched.
• result_vector: The range that contains the corresponding values to be returned. (Only required for vector lookup)

Key Features of LOOKUP:

• Versatility: LOOKUP can perform both vertical and horizontal searches within a single column or row.
• Single Value Retrieval: It returns the value corresponding to the first occurrence of the lookup_value.
• Array Lookup: LOOKUP can also perform an array lookup, which returns a value from the same position in an array.

Differences Between VLOOKUP and LOOKUP:

• Search Orientation: VLOOKUP searches vertically (up-down), whereas LOOKUP can search both vertically and horizontally (left-right).
• Argument Requirement: VLOOKUP requires the column index number to retrieve the value, whereas LOOKUP retrieves the first matching value.
• Functionality: VLOOKUP is more specialized for vertical lookups and table searches, while LOOKUP is more versatile and can handle various lookup scenarios.

When to Use Each Function:

• Use VLOOKUP When:
  • You need to perform a vertical lookup within a table.
  • You require precise control over the column from which to retrieve the value.
  • You want to find an exact or approximate match within the table.

• Use LOOKUP When:
  • You need to perform both vertical and horizontal searches within a single row or column.
  • You want to retrieve the first matching value without specifying a column index.
  • You are dealing with smaller datasets or simpler lookup scenarios where the versatility of LOOKUP suffices.

End Note:

While VLOOKUP and LOOKUP functions share similarities in their purpose of retrieving data from a table or range, they exhibit differences in their functionality and application. Understanding these distinctions is crucial for effectively utilizing Excel’s capabilities in data analysis and management tasks.

By leveraging the appropriate function based on the specific requirements of your data, you can streamline your spreadsheet operations and enhance your productivity in Excel.