Back to the example, the table_array would not only include the Student ID number column, but the columns for the Student Names and Grades as well. This includes not only the column being searched on, but the data columns for which you are going to get the values that you need. The table_array is the area of cells in which the table is located.

If you are searching a table by the Student ID number, then the lookup_value is the cell that contains the inputted Student ID number being looked up. This is the value that the function uses to search on. The format of the VLOOKUP function is: VLOOKUP(lookup_value,table_array,col_index_num,range_lookup). HLOOKUP is the exact same function, but looks up data that has been formatted by rows instead of columns. In the Student Record example, there would be a separate column of data for Student Names, one for Student ID numbers, etc. That is, all of the data is set up in columns and each column is responsible for one kind of data. VLOOKUP allows you to search a table that is set up vertically. If you have a table of Student ID numbers, Student Names and Grades, you can set up Excel so that if a Student ID number is supplied by the user, it will look through the table and output the student's name and grade.

VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP are functions in Excel that allow you to search a table of data and based on what the user has supplied and give appropriate information from that table. It can be used in all versions of Microsoft Excel. This document explains the functions of VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP and how to use them in a spreadsheet.

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