What is col index number in vlookup?

The col index number in VLOOKUP is an optional argument that specifies which column in the table array contains the value to be retrieved and returned. The col index number is a number that indicates the column position in the table array where the desired value is located.

For example, if you specify a col index number of 2, VLOOKUP will search for the lookup value in the first column of the table array and return the value from the second column. The col index number must be a positive integer that is less than or equal to the number of columns in the table array.

If the col index number is omitted, VLOOKUP will return the value from the first column of the table array. It is important to ensure that the col index number accurately represents the column position of the desired value in the table array, as specifying an incorrect col index number can result in inaccurate or incorrect results.