How to Use VLOOKUP with Wildcards
Learn how to use wildcards (* and ?) in VLOOKUP for partial matches and flexible searches.
Wildcard Search Demo
Try partial name searches using wildcards. Use * for multiple characters (e.g., '*Smith*') or ? for single characters (e.g., 'J?hn')
Sample Data:
| employee Id | name | department | position |
|---|---|---|---|
| E001 | John Smith | Sales | Manager |
| E002 | Jane Smith-Jones | Marketing | Analyst |
| E003 | Bob Smithson | IT | Developer |
| E004 | Sarah Johnson | HR | Coordinator |
| E005 | Mike Smithfield | Finance | Accountant |
Formula:
Try it yourself:
Complete Guide
Everything you need to know about how to use vlookup with wildcards
Overview
VLOOKUP wildcards allow you to find partial matches when you don't know the exact lookup value. Using asterisk (*) and question mark (?) wildcards, you can search for patterns, partial text, and flexible matches. This powerful technique is essential for working with inconsistent data or when you need to find approximate text matches.
Step-by-Step Methods
Using Asterisk (*) Wildcard
The asterisk represents any number of characters and is perfect for partial text matching.
Steps:
- Use * at the beginning for suffix matching: =VLOOKUP("*Smith", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Use * at the end for prefix matching: =VLOOKUP("John*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Use * in the middle for contains matching: =VLOOKUP("*Sales*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Combine with cell references: =VLOOKUP("*"&B2&"*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Remember that wildcards only work with text, not numbers
Example:
Scenario: Finding employees whose names contain 'Smith'
Data Structure: Employee table with names like 'John Smith', 'Jane Smith-Jones', 'Bob Smithson'
Result: Finds first match containing 'Smith' anywhere in the name
Using Question Mark (?) Wildcard
The question mark represents exactly one character, useful for single character variations.
Steps:
- Use ? for single character substitution: =VLOOKUP("Jo?n", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Use multiple ? for multiple characters: =VLOOKUP("A???", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Combine ? with * for complex patterns: =VLOOKUP("A?*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Perfect for handling typos or variations in data
- Useful for standardized codes with minor variations
Example:
Scenario: Finding product codes with single character variations
Data Structure: Product codes like 'A001', 'A101', 'A201' where middle digit varies
Result: Finds first product code matching pattern A_01
Advanced Wildcard Combinations
Combine wildcards with other functions for powerful search capabilities.
Steps:
- Use with IFERROR for graceful handling: =IFERROR(VLOOKUP("*"&B2&"*", A:D, 2, FALSE), "Not found")
- Combine with TRIM to handle spaces: =VLOOKUP("*"&TRIM(B2)&"*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Use UPPER/LOWER for case-insensitive searches: =VLOOKUP("*"&UPPER(B2)&"*", A:D, 2, FALSE)
- Create dynamic wildcard searches based on user input
- Use in data validation for flexible dropdown searches
Example:
Scenario: Flexible customer search with error handling
Data Structure: Customer database with various name formats
Result: Robust search that handles spaces, case, and missing values
Wildcard Rules and Limitations
Wildcards only work with text data, not numbers. They require the range_lookup parameter to be FALSE for exact pattern matching. Wildcards are case-insensitive by default. The search finds the first match, not all matches. Use COUNTIF to count wildcard matches before using VLOOKUP.
Escaping Literal Wildcards
To search for actual asterisk or question mark characters, use the tilde (~) escape character. Use ~* to find literal asterisk and ~? to find literal question mark. This is important when your data contains these characters as actual content rather than wildcards.
⚠️Common Mistakes to Avoid
- ❌Using wildcards with TRUE for range_lookup (doesn't work)
- ❌Expecting wildcards to work with numeric data
- ❌Not escaping literal wildcard characters when needed
- ❌Forgetting that wildcards find only the first match
- ❌Not handling cases where no wildcard matches exist
✨Best Practices
- Always use FALSE for range_lookup when using wildcards
- Test wildcard patterns with COUNTIF before using in VLOOKUP
- Use TRIM and UPPER/LOWER functions for robust wildcard searches
- Include error handling with IFERROR for user-friendly results
- Document your wildcard patterns for future reference
- Consider using wildcards with data validation for dynamic searches
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about how to use vlookup with wildcards
Key Takeaways
- Understand the core concepts and syntax of how to use vlookup with wildcards
- Apply best practices to avoid common errors and improve formula reliability
- Use real-world examples to practice and reinforce your learning
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