We'll dive deeper into the process below.
#How to use vlookup in excel for comparing two columns how to
Here's a brief overview of how to use VLOOKUP in Excel Online. For our above example to work, the Items column that includes the Laptop cell will have to be in the first column. Note: The VLOOKUP function only works when your search term is in the left-most column. You can think of them like advanced filters in Gmail search. These parameters will help you search for and call up the value corresponding to the cell you're filling in. The VLOOKUP function is made up of four arguments (or parameters). Instead of copying and pasting the prices from our inventory list to our invoice, we can use the VLOOKUP function to automatically add the price of the laptop and the smartwatch to the invoice cost field. We're creating an invoice for Mike, who bought a laptop and a smartwatch. Using VLOOKUP, we can automate the process of filling in updated prices for an item on our invoices. We use Excel for inventory management and invoicing, so all of our inventory lives in a spreadsheet, and we also create our invoices in a spreadsheet.
Let's say we run an electronics distribution company called All Tech Ltd. Here's a practical example of when you might use VLOOKUP. The VLOOKUP formula relies on four different arguments to present a filtered result that is, you give it four inputs, and it gives you one output. It works like any other function or formula in Excel, like SUM or AVERAGE. VLOOKUP helps you look up a corresponding value for a cell from within your existing database.
Open the worksheet, and click Save to OneDrive to edit and practice with the data. We've created a demo worksheet that you can practice with. Here, we'll guide you through the process of how to use the VLOOKUP function in Excel Online. So what does VLOOKUP do? Like the name implies, it allows you to quickly look up any value that lives somewhere else in your spreadsheet. VLOOKUP is one of the most powerful features in Excel, but it's also kind of scary at first glance.