What VLOOKUP does
VLOOKUP is one of Excel's classic lookup functions. It reads down the first column of a lookup table, finds the row that matches your lookup value, and then returns a value from another column in that same row.
That makes it useful for pricing sheets, product lists, grade tables, inventory tables, and any worksheet where one column acts like a key.
Practical examples
Return an exact match
Use FALSE when you want the first argument to match exactly:
=VLOOKUP(A2,$F$2:$H$20,3,FALSE)
This is the version most people should start with. It is predictable and easier to debug.
Return a bracketed result
Approximate match is useful when the first column contains breakpoints such as score bands, tax brackets, or commission tiers:
=VLOOKUP(B2,$K$2:$L$8,2,TRUE)
For this pattern to work, the first column of the lookup table must be sorted in ascending order.
Common mistakes and notes
Using approximate match by accident
If you omit the fourth argument, Excel treats it like TRUE. That is why many VLOOKUP formulas return confusing results on unsorted tables. If you want an exact match, say so explicitly.
Returning the wrong column
col_index_num is counted from the left edge of table_array, not from the worksheet. If your lookup range changes width, the column number may need to change too.
Lookup column must be first
VLOOKUP can only search the first column in the table array. If the key column sits somewhere else, use INDEX and MATCH instead.