What does the VLOOKUP function do in Excel?

The VLOOKUP function in Excel is designed to search for a specific value within the first column of a designated table or range. Once it finds a match for this value, VLOOKUP retrieves a corresponding value from a specified column in the same row of the table. This functionality is particularly useful for looking up information, such as retrieving a product price based on a product ID or any other form of data retrieval where a one-to-one relationship exists between the columns.

The other options do not describe what VLOOKUP does:

• The first option describes a sum function, which is not what VLOOKUP performs.

• The third option pertains to conditional formatting, which modifies cell appearance based on their values rather than retrieving information.

• The last option relates to error checking in formulas, which VLOOKUP does not perform.

By focusing on retrieving data based on a lookup value, VLOOKUP serves as a powerful tool for data analysis and organization within Excel workbooks.