How to Use Google Sheet: XLOOKUP, What Is It?

Google Sheets is a widely-used tool for managing data, and one of its most important features is the ability to perform lookups. In the past, users had to rely on VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP to perform these lookups, but Google Sheets now offers a more versatile formula called XLOOKUP. XLOOKUP is particularly useful when working with large data sets or complex tables, as it allows you to search for specific values in a variety of ways.

How to Use XLOOKUP in Google Sheets

XLOOKUP is a function in Google Sheets that requires you to provide several pieces of information, including the search key, the range to search in, the range to return the value from, and any optional arguments that customize the search behavior.

To use XLOOKUP, you need to follow a basic syntax, which is explained below:

=XLOOKUP(search_key, lookup_range, result_range, missing_value, match_mode, search_mode)

• search_key: This is the value to search for. For example, 42, "Cats", or B24.
• lookup_range: The range to consider for the search. This range must be a singular row or column.
• result_range: The range to consider for the result. This range's row or column size should be the same as the lookup_range, depending on how the lookup is done.
• missing_value: [OPTIONAL] The value to return if no match is found.
• match_mode: [OPTIONAL] The manner in which to find a match for the search_key.
• search_mode: [OPTIONAL] The manner in which to search through the lookup_range.

Example of Using XLOOKUP

Here’s an example of using XLOOKUP to find products a sales reps sold:

=XLOOKUP("Joan .P", C1:C10, A1:A10)

Notice how this returns only the first item on the spreadsheet.

We can use XLOOKUP to return all values in a column, if we use the Missing keyword. For instance, the command below, returns the values in the Price column.

=XLOOKUP("Price", A1:C1, A2:C10, "Missing")

Advantages of XLOOKUP over Other Lookups in Google Sheets

XLOOKUP can be customized to suit your specific needs. For instance, you can customize the search behavior, use multiple search keys, return multiple values, and handle errors, as explained below:

1. Search Behavior: Unlike VLOOKUP, which only searches from left to right (across columns), XLOOKUP can search in any direction, including left to right (columns), right to left, and even vertically (rows). For instance, both examples we explored performed vertical and horizontal serches.
2. Multiple Search Keys: XLOOKUP allows you to specify multiple search keys, separated by commas. This is particularly useful when searching for similar or related values.
3. Handling Errors: XLOOKUP allows you to specify a default value to return if the search key is not found. This can be useful in situations where you need to handle missing data or provide a fallback value.

Conclusion

In conclusion, XLOOKUP is a powerful feature in Google Sheets that allows users to search for and retrieve specific data from a large dataset. Its ability to search horizontally and vertically, as well as to return multiple values, make it a versatile tool for data management. With XLOOKUP, users can save time and improve the accuracy of their work by quickly finding and organizing data. The importance of XLOOKUP in data management cannot be overstated, as it allows for efficient analysis and decision-making based on accurate and reliable information. Overall, XLOOKUP is a valuable addition to any data analyst or manager’s toolkit.

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Interested in more about GoogleSheet? Check our previous articles:

• How to Use Google Sheet: How to use Importrange in GoogleSheets
• How to Use Google Sheet: How to Highlight Duplicates in GoogleSheets
• How to Use Google Sheet: CountIF
• How to Use Google Sheet: Query in GoogleSheet, How Does It Work?
• How to Use Google Sheet: VLOOKUP in GoogleSheet, How Does It Work?
• How to Use Google Sheet: HLOOKUP, How It Works.

Would you like to follow our series on creating a database with Rust and GoogleSheets, checkout our first post here.