What does the 'col_index_num' argument specify in VLookup?

The 'col_index_num' argument in the VLOOKUP function specifies the column number from which to retrieve data after finding a match in the first column of the specified table range. When using VLOOKUP, you define a range of data where the first column contains the values to search against, and the 'col_index_num' determines which additional column in that range will provide the desired return value.

For instance, if the table array spans three columns, and the first column is where the VLOOKUP searches for a match, the 'col_index_num' of 2 would indicate that the function should return a value from the second column, while a 'col_index_num' of 3 would retrieve data from the third column.

Understanding this argument is crucial for correctly using VLOOKUP to find and return relevant data from a dataset, ensuring that you grab the expected value from the correct column.