SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS: The functions at a glance

In Microsoft Excel, you have the option of making work steps easier with the help of functions. For example, you can use the SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS functions to search your data sets. Learn how to use the two functions here.

The difference between SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS

The SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS functions allow you to search a matrix in Excel for a specific search criterion. The difference between the two functions is that SVERWEIS searches the first column of a matrix, while WVERWEIS refers to the first row.

• Not only are the operations of SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS similar, but so is the syntax of the two functions.
• The syntax of the SVERWEIS function looks like this "=SVERWEIS(search_criterion;matrix;column_index;[range_reference])"
• The syntax of the WVERWEIS function looks like this "=WVERWEIS(search_criterion;matrix;row_index;[range_reference])"

The syntax of the two functions differs only in the arguments column_index and row_index, otherwise the two formulas have the same structure.

This is what the arguments mean - the syntax in detail

About the argument "search criterion" in the functions SVERWEIS and WVERWEIS you specify what should be searched for with the function. Set in the function the cell in which the criterion is located, so for example A6.

• The matrix defines the search range to be searched for the search criterion.
• The row or column index specifies in which row or column within the matrix to look for the searched criterion.
• Optionally, the argument [range_reference] specifies whether to search with exact or inexact match. If Excel is to consider only results that match 1:1, enter "FALSE". For an inexact search, enter the value "TRUE".