Vlookup and Hlookup vs Xlookup
In data analysis, Excel remains a powerful tool for manipulating and interpreting data. One of its most commonly used functions is lookup, which helps users find specific information in a table. Traditionally, VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP have been the preferred functions for this purpose, but with the introduction of XLOOKUP, users now have more options. In this article, we will explain the differences between VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP, and look at real-world examples to illustrate their use.
VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP
VLOOKUP(Vertical Lookup)
VLOOKUP– V stand for vertical it means can say its find record in a table vertically from left to right column wise.This is limited to searching only in the first column in the specified table array and go from left to right.These can only return a single value at a time, limiting its efficiency.
In this table if somebody want to search Product Name based on Id then can search easily(Left-Right) but if want to search id based on product name(Right-Left), its not possible in vlookup.
Syntax: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]) Syntax Parameters:
lookup_value: The value to search for in the first column.table_array: The range containing the data.col_index_num: The column number in the table array from which to return the value.[range_lookup]: Optional. TRUE for approximate match, FALSE for exact match.
HLOOKUP(Horizontal Lookup)
HLOOKUP– H stand for Horizontal it means can say its find record in a table horizontally from top to bottom row wise.These is limited to searching only in the first row in the specified table array and go from top to bottom..These can only return a single value at a time, limiting its efficiency.
In this table if somebody want to search Product Name based on Id then can search easily(Top-Bottom) but if want to search id based on product name(Bottom-Top), its not possible in hlookup.
Syntax: =HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup]) Syntax Parameters:
lookup_value: The value to search for in the first row.table_array: The range containing the data.row_index_num: The row number in the table array from which to return the value.[range_lookup]: Optional. TRUE for approximate match, FALSE for exact match.
XLOOKUP
XLOOKUP is a versatile and powerful function designed to simplify and enhance data finding capabilities in Microsoft Excel. It overcomes many of the limitations of traditional VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP functions by providing increasingly efficient functionality.
xlookup support bidirectional searching it means can search record based on any column value without any criteria limit.
It returns multiple column values ​​or row values ​​based on any column or row value. for example based on ID it return product name, unit price,qty.
xlookup imposes no limit on the lookup value’s size.
It handle missing value if record is not found can show any msg using formula.
Syntax: =XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode]) Syntax Parameters:
lookup_value: The value you want to search for.lookup_array: The range or array to search within.return_array: The range or array to return values from.[if_not_found]: Optional. The value to return if no match is found.[match_mode]: Optional. Specify the match type: 0 (exact match), -1 (exact match or next smaller), 1 (exact match or next larger), 2 (wildcard match).[search_mode]: Optional. Specify the search mode: 1 (first to last), -1 (last to first), 2 (binary search ascending), -2 (binary search descending).
Summary Table
| Feature | VLOOKUP | HLOOKUP | XLOOKUP |
|---|---|---|---|
| Search Direction | Vertical | Horizontal | Both |
| Return Range | Column Index | Row Index | Directly Specified |
| Error Handling | Basic | Basic | Advanced |
| Multiple Criteria | No | No | Yes |
| Wildcard Matching | No | No | Yes |
Conclusion:
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