XLOOKUP and VLOOKUP are both functions in Excel used to search for a value in a range and return a corresponding value from another column. However, there are some key differences between the two:

1. Functionality:

• VLOOKUP: It stands for Vertical Lookup. It searches for a value in the first column of a range (table) and returns a value in the same row from a specified column.
• XLOOKUP: It is a more versatile function that allows you to search both vertically and horizontally. It can search for a value in any column or row of a range and return a value from the same row or column in another range.

1. Lookup Direction:

• VLOOKUP: Searches vertically (top-down) in the leftmost column of a table or range.
• XLOOKUP: Can search both vertically and horizontally, making it more flexible than VLOOKUP.

1. Return Behavior:

• VLOOKUP: Returns an approximate or exact match. It defaults to an approximate match, meaning it returns the closest match that is less than or equal to the lookup value (if the lookup column is sorted). You need to specify FALSE for an exact match.
• XLOOKUP: Returns an exact match by default. It can also handle wildcards and return multiple values if needed.

1. Error Handling:

• VLOOKUP: Returns #N/A error if the lookup value is not found.
• XLOOKUP: Allows you to specify a default value to return if the lookup value is not found.

1. Column Selection:

• VLOOKUP: Requires you to count columns to select the column from which to return a value.
• XLOOKUP: Allows you to specify the column to return the value by name, making it more intuitive and less prone to errors.

In summary, XLOOKUP is more versatile, flexible, and user-friendly compared to VLOOKUP, offering additional capabilities and addressing some of the limitations of VLOOKUP. However, VLOOKUP remains widely used and is still suitable for many simpler lookup tasks.