No limit to a lookup value’s size while using the VLOOKUP function.
The index match can lookup right to left.
Using the index match is far better than using a simple vlookup function.
Things to Remember about the Alternatives to Vlookup in Excel =INDEX(R24:T41,MATCH(M27,$K$24:$K$40,0),1)Īs you can easily see the that by using an index match, you will get the Name from the table, but #N/A error from the vlookup formulas as vlookup is not able to lookup value from left-right. Let’s consider the below data and find out the age by using the Name from the table by using the standard index match and vlookup formula. #2 – INDEX / MATCH Function as Vlookup Alternatives Example #3 – Using Index Match If you want to switch the procedure to search for age and output the corresponding name, it works for LOOKUP but produces an error for alternatives to VLOOKUP.Īnd get the output of the corresponding Name The corresponding match is a piece of information associated with the value being searched. You will see the processing of the lookup function in excel Lookup Function In Excel The LOOKUP excel function searches a value in a range (single row or single column) and returns a corresponding match from the same position of another range (single row or single column). The most significant benefits of the lookup function are that it can operate from right to left. Right-to-Left Functionality Using Lookup – Example #2 Select the Name entered in F4 cell and then apply the below lookup formula =LOOKUP(F4,A3:A19,C3:C19). Let’s consider the data of Name, country, and age and apply the lookup function. Lookup Function with Excel Alternative to Vlookup – Example #1 It also allows left to right and right to left lookup however, excel alternatives to vlookup only allow left to right. Here understand the working of the lookup function with some examples. You can search data both vertically and horizontally. The lookup function is better than Vlookup as it is less restrictive in use. Here we use lookup and index match as alternatives to vlookup in excel. #1 – LOOKUP Function as Vlookup Alternatives read more across a row and return a value from a column. This combination of the INDEX MATCH is beneficial in addressing a fundamental limitation of VLOOKUP. You need to copy the lookup column to a newly inserted first column, or you can apply the Lookup and index match combination to lookup a value Index Match Combination To Lookup A Value The INDEX function can return the result from the row number, and the MATCH function can give us the position of the lookup value in the array. But if your lookup column is not the first one, then Vlookup will not work here. Read more in a list and return any column from the lookup column. For instance, employee ID, student roll number, customer contact number, seller email address, etc., are unique identifiers. A unique identifier is uniquely associated with all the records of the database. Vlookup AlternativesĪs you know, the Vlookup function is used to lookup a value Vlookup Function Is Used To Lookup A Value The VLOOKUP excel function searches for a particular value and returns a corresponding match based on a unique identifier. Vlookup is a very useful function to reference in columns but there are alternatives to vlookup too because Vlookup has its limitations as it can reference from left to right, to reference from right to left we use a combination of Index and Match function combined which is one of the best alternatives to Vlookup in excel.