The VLOOKUP function in Excel is utilized to search for a specific value in the leftmost column of a table and retrieve a corresponding value in the same row from a specified column.
How to explain
Its syntax involves four main components: =VLOOKUP(lookup_value, table_array, col_index_num, [range_lookup]).
lookup_value: The value being searched for in the leftmost column of the table.
table_array: The table range where the lookup is performed.
col_index_num: The column number in the table from which to retrieve the value.
[range_lookup]: An optional argument denoting the type of match - exact or approximate (TRUE or FALSE).
The Complete Question
What is the syntax and functionality of the VLOOKUP function in Microsoft Excel, and how is it utilized to search for data in a table?