Difference Between VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH in Microsoft Excel

When it comes to searching for data in Microsoft Excel, two commonly used functions are VLOOKUP and INDEX/MATCH. While both functions can help you find information within a spreadsheet, there are some key differences between them:

VLOOKUP

• Vertical lookup function that searches for a value in the first column of a table and returns a value in the same row based on a specified column index.
• Simpler to use, as it only requires specifying the lookup value, table array, column index, and an optional range lookup parameter.
• However, it can only search for data in the leftmost column of the table.

INDEX/MATCH

• Combination of the INDEX and MATCH functions, which work together to search for and return data in a more flexible way.
• INDEX function is used to retrieve a value from a specific row and column, while MATCH function is used to locate the position of a value in a range.
• Provides more control and flexibility in defining the lookup criteria and can handle searches in any column.

In summary, while VLOOKUP is simpler and easier to use for basic lookup operations, INDEX/MATCH offers more versatility and control, especially when dealing with complex data searches in Microsoft Excel.