You might be wondering if you should use XLOOKUP or VLOOKUP, and you’re probably wondering how they’re different from each other. While they’re both valid functions for comparing data in two different databases, XLOOKUP has a few extra uses. Below, we’ll compare them. Which one is better? Let’s see. This article will also explain when to use each.
When using the XLOOKUP function, you specify the range of cells to search for and an array to return. When using the VLOOKUP function, you need to specify the column index numbers in your array, which can be tricky, especially in large datasets. Furthermore, you’ll want to remember that XLOOKUP allows you to create a customized message, whereas VLOOKUP doesn’t.
VLOOKUP is an older and less popular function in Excel, but it’s still widely used. In fact, it’s the third most popular function, and has billions of formulas. In the meantime, XLOOKUP is the way of the future. Both of them are compatible with one another, but XLOOKUP is faster and has more arguments. When it comes to data access, VLOOKUP wins in terms of speed.
The VLOOKUP function uses a corresponding parameter, which is used to match data. The XLOOKUP function has a few different arguments, one of which is the match mode. You can use it to search for exact matches or for ranges of characters in reverse order. While VLOOKUP searches for a first-occurrence match, XLOOKUP finds a match if it matches any row.
XLOOKUP is faster than VLOOKUP, but is slower than INDEX/XMATCH. This is because it relies on sorted data. Using a binary search is faster than a regular search, but it only works on sorted data. Its syntax is huge, so you need to memorize its full configuration. The difference between the two is most obvious when using a database with a large number of variables.
XLOOKUP is the better choice for many purposes. Compared to VLOOKUP, it can look vertically, horizontally, and even to the left and above. Moreover, it returns a whole column or row of data. However, it’s only available in Excel for Microsoft 365 and Excel for the web. If you’re trying to find a specific column or row of data, you’ll want to use XLOOKUP instead.
While both functions work well for certain types of data, XLOOKUP is more flexible and has fewer false positives. You don’t have to worry about data-type-inaccuracy when using the XLOOKUP function, since XLOOKUP can find data in both horizontal and vertical arrays. This is an excellent feature if you need to search for specific data.
XLOOKUP is a modern replacement for VLOOKUP in Excel. Unlike VLOOKUP, it allows you to search values in vertical and horizontal ranges. Moreover, it supports wildcards, so you can get partial matches. Unlike VLOOKUP, XLOOKUP is more flexible and allows you to search data starting from the first or last value in a column.
