Excel spreadsheet is used in most companies to keep data in tabular form. It has many features that are used to make work easier and quicker. Hlookup and Vlookup are two important tools that are used in excel to find particular data in a spreadsheet.
Hlookup vs Vlookup
The difference between Hlookup and Vlookup is that in Hlookup H means horizontal, and it is used to look for the data horizontally in the table on the other hand, in Vlookup V means vertical and it is used to find the data vertically in the table.
Hlookup is a tool used in Excel. It stands for horizontal lookup, as the name indicates it lookup for the data horizontally. This tool is used to search the data that are arranged in rows but most of the data are arranged in columns so it is the least used tool.
Vlookup is also a tool used in Excel. It stands for Vertical lookup, as indicated by the name it is lookup vertically for the required information. This tool is used to search for the data that are arranged in columns, as most of the data are arranged in columns hence it is a more frequently used tool.
Comparison Table Between Hlookup and Vlookup
| Parameters of Comparison | Hlookup | Vlookup |
| Definition | Hlookup is a tool used to search data horizontally in a spreadsheet. | Vlookup is a tool used to search data vertically in a spreadsheet. |
| Full Form | Hlookup stands for Horizontal lookup. | Vlookup stands for Vertical lookup. |
| Data Format | It is useful when the data is arranged in rows. | It is useful when the data is arranged in columns. |
| Syntax | HLookup (Lookup_Value, Table_Array, Row_Index, {Range_Lookup}) | VLookup (Lookup_Value, Table_Array, Col_Index, {Range_Lookup}) |
| Usability | It is a comparatively less used tool in excel spreadsheets. | It is a more frequently used tool in excel spreadsheets. |
What is Hlookup?
Hlookup is a useful tool for excel spreadsheets. It stands for Horizontal lookup and is used in finding the information horizontally. It is used to define the function of a particular row of the table. It gives an exact and also approximate value as a result according to the row number given in the syntax of Hlookup in excel.
The data is found using syntax in Hlookup and the syntax used in Hlookup is HLOOKUP( lookup_value, table_array, row_index_num, [range_lookup] ). All the values related to information name, the cell in which information is given, and all the range to find data is put in the syntax of the Hlookup and then it gives results. It gives the result in the same column.
In the syntax first, we put the lookup value, it is the data for which we are finding the result. This value should be in the first row of the table as it only searches in the first row of the table. It can be a text or a number. Then we put the range at the place of table_array, it defines the range of the row and column in which we will find the data. Similarly, many other parameters are used to find the required information.
What is Vlookup?
Vlookup is a tool of an excel spreadsheet used to look for data vertically. As most of the data are arranged in columns hence it is a frequently used tool. The data is searched from the leftmost column of the table and gives results in the next column and same row.
The syntax used for Vlookup tool is VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]). The lookup_value and table_array functions are similar to the Hlookup tool. And in col_index_num, we put the column number that defines the return value. Then we can put the value of range_lookup which is completely optional, it defines that the desired value should be matched completely or not.
In the Vlookup syntax, the first three values are compulsory and the fourth value can be left according to the situation. We can find exact or approximate value but If someone wants to use the Vlookup tool effectively, then one should use range_lookup value to get the exact value.
If the data are arranged in ascending order then it gives effective results and one more important point is the Vlookup function is case insensitive which means it will treat “Bat” and “BAT” as the same data. There is much other information related to this function that can be learned by practicing.
Main Differences Between Hlookup and Vlookup
- The main difference between Hlookup and Vlookup is that Hlookup is a tool in an excel spreadsheet that is used to lookup for the data horizontally, in contrast, Vlookup is used to lookup for the data vertically.
- Hlookup is used when the data are arranged in rows on the other hand Vlookup is used when the data is arranged in columns.
- Both Hlookup and Vlookup use different syntax, the first one uses “HLookup (Lookup_Value, Table_Array, Row_Index, {Range_Lookup})” whereas Vlookup uses “VLookup (Lookup_Value, Table_Array, Col_Index, {Range_Lookup})” for finding the information in the table.
- As most of the time data are arranged columns, so HLookup is the less used function in an excel spreadsheet while Vlookup is the most frequently used tool in an excel spreadsheet.
- HLookup gives the result in the same column, on the other hand, Vlookup gives the result in the next column but in the same row.
Conclusion
Excel format can be used for many purposes. It is used to arrange data in tabular form. It has hundreds of features to help users in their work. HLookup and Vlookup are two tools in an excel spreadsheet. Both of the tools are used to find the required information from the table, the result from both of the tools would be the same just the data need to be arranged in a row or column according to the used tool.
Hlookup and Vlookup tools are used to search for the data horizontally and vertically respectively. Hlookup is useful when the data are arranged in rows whereas Vlookup is useful when data arranged in columns. As most of the data are arranged in columns the Vlookup tool is used more as compared to Hlookup.
References
- http://www.egyankosh.ac.in/bitstream/123456789/67025/3/Unit-19.pdf
- https://search.proquest.com/openview/93fd4ff8460fb7907d5137151a7a6fb5/1?pq-origsite=gscholar&cbl=48426
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