When working with data in Excel, lookup functions are essential. For years, VLOOKUP was the go-to function for searching and retrieving information. But now, with Office 365 and Excel 2021+, we have a more powerful alternative – XLOOKUP.
Let’s break down both functions using a real-world example.
Table of Contents
🧾 Sample Data:
| A | B | C | D |
|---|---|---|---|
| Employee Name | Date of Join | Role | Salary |
| Ankit Sharma | 12-Jan-2022 | Manager | 50000 |
| Meera Joshi | 01-Mar-2021 | Analyst | 42000 |
| Rohan Verma | 18-May-2020 | Developer | 48000 |
| Sonia Patel | 09-Sep-2023 | HR | 39000 |
🔹 VLOOKUP Function:
Syntax:
=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])
Example – Get Role of Meera:=VLOOKUP("Meera Joshi", A2:D5, 3, FALSE)
✅ What it does: Searches the first column (Employee Name) for “Meera Joshi” and returns the value from the 3rd column (Role).
❌ VLOOKUP Limitations:
- Only searches left to right
- Requires exact column index (not dynamic)
- Cannot search from right to left
- Slower on large datasets
🔸 XLOOKUP Function:
Syntax:
=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found])
Example – Get Role of Meera:=XLOOKUP("Meera Joshi", A2:A5, C2:C5, "Not Found")
✅ What it does: Looks for “Meera Joshi” in column A and returns corresponding value from column C (Role).
✅ XLOOKUP Advantages:
- Can look left or right
- More flexible and readable
- Allows default result if not found
- Works vertically or horizontally
- No need for column number
📊 Comparison Table:
| Feature | VLOOKUP | XLOOKUP |
|---|---|---|
| Lookup Direction | Left to Right only | Left, Right, Any Direction |
| Return Value | Uses column number | Uses actual return range |
| Not Found Message | Shows #N/A | You can define a message |
| Vertical & Horizontal | Vertical only | Both supported |
| Simplicity | Basic | Modern and flexible |
🔚 Conclusion:
If you’re still using VLOOKUP, it’s time to upgrade! XLOOKUP is more powerful, easier to use, and reduces formula errors.
