how to use xlookup in excel

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How to Use XLOOKUP in Excel

Excel’s XLOOKUP function is a powerful tool for searching and retrieving data in a spreadsheet. This guide will walk you through how to effectively use the XLOOKUP function in Excel.

Overview

The XLOOKUP function in Excel allows you to search for a value in a table or range and return a corresponding result from the same row. It’s particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or when VLOOKUP falls short in meeting your requirements. XLOOKUP is available in Excel 365 and Excel 2019 versions.

Syntax

The syntax for the XLOOKUP function is as follows:

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

  • lookup_value: The value you want to search for.
  • lookup_array: The range or array where you want to search for the lookup value.
  • return_array: The range or array from which you want to retrieve a result.
  • if_not_found (optional): The value to return if no match is found.
  • match_mode (optional): Determines the type of match to perform.
  • search_mode (optional): Determines the search direction.

Example Usage

Let’s say you have a table with two columns: “Product” and “Price.” You want to find the price of a specific product using XLOOKUP.

  1. Start by selecting the cell where you want to display the result.

  2. Enter the following formula:
    =XLOOKUP("Product A", A2:A10, B2:B10)
    In this example, “Product A” is the lookup value, A2:A10 is the lookup array (the range where you want to search for the lookup value), and B2:B10 is the return array (the range from which you want to retrieve the price).

  3. Press Enter to view the result. The corresponding price for “Product A” will be displayed in the selected cell.

Additional Options

XLOOKUP also offers additional options to customize its behavior:

  • if_not_found: Specify a value to return if no match is found. This could be an error message, a default value, or any text or formula you want.
  • match_mode: Choose from 0, 1, or -1 to control the type of match. 0 represents an exact match, 1 performs an approximate match for the closest smaller value, and -1 performs an approximate match for the closest larger value.
  • search_mode: Choose from 1 or -1 to determine the search direction. 1 searches from the top to the bottom, and -1 searches from the bottom to the top.

Experiment with these options to tailor the XLOOKUP function according to your specific requirements.

Conclusion

XLOOKUP in Excel is a versatile and powerful function for searching and retrieving data. With its flexible syntax and additional options, you can easily customize the function based on your needs. By mastering XLOOKUP, you can efficiently handle complex data analysis tasks in Excel.