VLOOKUP vs HLOOKUP vs XLOOKUP Function in Excel (Video in Khmer)

Hello everyone! Today I show you how to use VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP formula in Excel step by step with simple examples and video speak Khmer.

You ever want to search for data in a table and get matching information from another column or row? For example, enter Student ID to get Student Name or search Product Name to get Unit Price? Excel have three lookup formulas for this: VLOOKUP, HLOOKUP, and XLOOKUP.

Let's look at how to use all three functions below.

1. How to Use VLOOKUP Formula in Excel (Vertical Lookup)

VLOOKUP is used to search data vertically (column by column). It searches for a value in the first (leftmost) column of a table and returns matching value from a specified column to the right.

Formula Syntax:

=VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup])

Example:

To find the Price of "Apple" from a product table in A5:B10:

=VLOOKUP("Apple", A5:B10, 2, FALSE)

• lookup_value: "Apple" (in cell A2)
• table_array: A5:B10
• col_index_num: 2 (returns value from 2nd column)
• FALSE: Exact match

Watch video guides below for step by step in Khmer:

2. How to Use HLOOKUP Formula in Excel (Horizontal Lookup)

HLOOKUP is used when your table data is arranged horizontally in rows instead of columns. It searches for a value in the top row and returns matching value from a specified row below.

Formula Syntax:

=HLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup])

Example:

To find the Price of "Banana" from a row-based table in A5:F10:

=HLOOKUP("Banana", A5:F10, 2, FALSE)

• row_index_num: 2 (returns value from 2nd row)

Watch video guides below for step by step in Khmer:

3. How to Use XLOOKUP Formula in Excel (Modern Lookup)

XLOOKUP is the ultimate modern lookup formula in Excel! It replaces both VLOOKUP and HLOOKUP. It can search in any direction (left, right, up, down), doesn't break when columns are added, and has built-in error handling!

Formula Syntax:

=XLOOKUP(lookup_value, lookup_array, return_array, [if_not_found], [match_mode], [search_mode])

Example:

To find the Price of "Orange":

=XLOOKUP(A2, A5:A10, B5:B10, "Not Found")


> 💡 **Quick Tip:** 
> - Use **`VLOOKUP`** for vertical tables in older Excel versions. Remember: `VLOOKUP` can ONLY search from left to right!
> - Use **`HLOOKUP`** for horizontal tables organized in rows.
> - Always use **`XLOOKUP`** if you are on Excel 2021 or Excel 365. It is faster, safer, works in all directions, and prevents `#N/A` errors automatically without needing `IFERROR`!

## 📚 Useful Resources

- <a href="/blog/xlookup-vs-index-match-function-in-excel" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">XLOOKUP vs INDEX+MATCH Function in Excel (Video in Khmer)</a>
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- <a href="/blog/top-15-basic-excel-formulas-for-beginner" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Top 15 Basic Excel Formulas Every Beginner Should Know</a>
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- <a href="/blog/50-excel-formulas-with-pdf-download" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Free Download PDF - 50 Popular Excel Formulas Cheatsheet (Khmer Language)</a>