Mastering VLOOKUP: A Comprehensive Guide to Using VLOOKUP in Excel and Google Sheets

What is VLOOKUP?

VLOOKUP stands for "Vertical Lookup." It searches for a value in the first column of a range and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.

VLOOKUP Syntax

The syntax for VLOOKUP is:

=VLOOKUP(search_key, range, index, [is_sorted])

search_key: The value you want to look up.
range: The table where the search will occur.
index: The column number in the range from which to return the value.
[is_sorted]: Optional; set to FALSE for an exact match.

Example Data

Product ID	Product Name	Price
1001	Apple	$1
1002	Banana	$0.5
1003	Cherry	$2

How to Use VLOOKUP in Excel and Google Sheets

Open your spreadsheet.
Select a cell where you want the result to appear.
Enter the formula. For example:
```
=VLOOKUP(1002, A2:C4, 3, FALSE)
```
Press Enter. The result will display $0.5.

Tips for Using VLOOKUP

Ensure that your search_key is in the first column of your specified range.
If you're looking for an exact match, always set [is_sorted] to FALSE.
You can drag the fill handle down to apply the formula to other cells.

Conclusion

VLOOKUP is a powerful tool that simplifies data retrieval in spreadsheets. By mastering this function, you can streamline your data analysis processes in both Excel and Google Sheets.