Compact mode

CONCAT vs SORT vs VLOOKUP

Table of content

Basic Classification Comparison
Usage Context Comparison
Basic Information Comparison
History Comparison
Facts Comparison

Usage Information Comparison
Technical Details Comparison
Evaluation Comparison
Ratings Comparison

Basic Classification Comparison

Function Category 📊

Primary classification of the Excel function based on its main purpose and usage domain, helps users quickly identify function types

CONCAT

Text

CONCAT belongs to the Text category. Excel functions for manipulating and analyzing text data Click to see all.

SORT

Database

SORT belongs to the Database category. Excel functions for managing and analyzing database-like data Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Lookup & Reference

VLOOKUP belongs to the Lookup & Reference category. Excel functions for searching and referencing data across spreadsheets Click to see all.
Operation Type 🔧

Fundamental type of operation or action that the Excel function performs on its inputs

CONCAT

Manipulation

CONCAT performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways Click to see all.

SORT

Manipulation

SORT performs Manipulation operations. Functions that modify and transform data in different ways Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Retrieval

VLOOKUP performs Retrieval operations. Functions specialized in fetching data from various sources Click to see all.

Usage Context Comparison

For whom 👥

Target user groups who would benefit most from using this Excel function

For all*

Data Analysts

Excel functions specifically designed for data analysis and interpretation
Business Managers

Excel functions helpful for business management and decision making

VLOOKUP

Administrative Staff

VLOOKUP is designed for Administrative Staff. Excel functions useful for administrative tasks and data management Click to see all.
Purpose 📝

Primary purposes and use cases of the Excel function

CONCAT

String Operations

CONCAT is used for String Operations. Excel functions that manipulate and process text strings Click to see all.

SORT

Data Analysis

SORT is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Data Lookup

VLOOKUP is used for Data Lookup. Functions for finding and retrieving specific data Click to see all.

Data Analysis

VLOOKUP is used for Data Analysis. Functions specifically designed for analyzing data Click to see all.

Basic Information Comparison

Known For ⭐

Distinctive characteristic or primary strength of the Excel function

CONCAT

Modern Text Joining

CONCAT is known for Modern Text Joining.

SORT

Dynamic Sorting

SORT is known for Dynamic Sorting.

VLOOKUP

Vertical Data Search

VLOOKUP is known for Vertical Data Search.

History Comparison

Creation Date 📅

Original release date of the Excel function

CONCAT

Excel 2016

CONCAT was created in Excel 2016. Functions that came with Excel 2016 version Click to see all.

SORT

Excel 2019

SORT was created in Excel 2019. Functions introduced in Excel 2019 release Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Excel 3.0

VLOOKUP was created in Excel 3.0. Functions that originated in Excel 3.0 version Click to see all.
Created By 👤

Organization or team responsible for developing the function

For all*

Microsoft Excel Team

Functions officially created by the Microsoft Excel development team

Facts Comparison

Interesting Fact 💡

Unique or lesser-known information about the Excel function

CONCAT

Replaced CONCATENATE function

SORT

First dynamic array sorting function

VLOOKUP

Often confused with HLOOKUP
Sarcastic Fact 🤣

Humorous or ironic observation about the Excel function

CONCAT

The modern solution to text attachment anxiety

SORT

The librarian of Excel functions

VLOOKUP

The function everyone pretends to understand

Usage Information Comparison

Formula Complexity Level 📖

Indicates the difficulty level and complexity of using the Excel function effectively

CONCAT

Simple

CONCAT has a Simple complexity level. Basic Excel functions for common calculations and tasks Click to see all.

SORT

Intermediate

SORT has a Intermediate complexity level. Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Intermediate

VLOOKUP has a Intermediate complexity level. Excel functions with moderate complexity for various tasks Click to see all.

Technical Details Comparison

Input Data Type 📝

Types of data that the Excel function accepts as input parameters

CONCAT

Text

CONCAT accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.

Array

CONCAT accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

SORT

Array

SORT accepts Array as input data. Excel functions designed to work with arrays and ranges of data Click to see all.

Range

SORT accepts Range as input data. Excel functions that operate on cell ranges and data sets Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Text

VLOOKUP accepts Text as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for text manipulation Click to see all.

Number

VLOOKUP accepts Number as input data. Excel functions specifically designed for numerical calculations Click to see all.
Version Compatibility 💻

Indicates which Excel versions and platforms the function is compatible with < including Office 365< Excel 2019< 2016< etc.

For all*

Excel 2019

Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2019 version
Microsoft 365

Excel functions optimized for the latest Microsoft 365 platform

CONCAT

Excel 2016

CONCAT is compatible with Excel 2016 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Excel 2016

VLOOKUP is compatible with Excel 2016 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2016 version Click to see all.

Excel 2013

VLOOKUP is compatible with Excel 2013 Excel functions that work specifically in Excel 2013 version Click to see all.

Excel Online

VLOOKUP is compatible with Excel Online Excel functions optimized for use in the web-based Excel Online platform Click to see all.
Operating System 💾

Specifies the operating systems where the function can be used < including Windows< macOS< and web platforms

For all*

Windows

Excel functions optimized for Windows operating system
MacOS

Excel functions optimized for MacOS users
Web Excel

Excel functions available in web-based versions

SORT

Excel Online

SORT runs on Excel Online Excel functions available in the online version of Excel Click to see all.
Required Arguments Count 🔢

Number of mandatory arguments needed for the function to work properly

CONCAT

2

CONCAT needs 2 required arguments Click to see all.

SORT

1

SORT needs 1 required arguments Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

4

VLOOKUP needs 4 required arguments Click to see all.
Required Arguments Type 📊

The data types accepted as valid input arguments for the function

For all*

Range

Excel functions that operate on cell ranges for calculations

CONCAT

Text

CONCAT accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Text

VLOOKUP accepts Text as input types Excel functions specialized in text string manipulation and processing Click to see all.

Number

VLOOKUP accepts Number as input types Excel functions that perform calculations specifically with numerical inputs Click to see all.

Boolean

VLOOKUP accepts Boolean as input types Excel functions that work with true/false logical inputs for decision-making Click to see all.

Evaluation Comparison

Pros ✅

Key advantages and strengths of the Excel function

CONCAT

Array Support

Dynamic Ranges

SORT

Automatic Sorting

Dynamic Results

Functions that automatically update results when source data changes Click to see all.

Multiple Columns

Automatic Updates

VLOOKUP

Powerful Search Capability

Flexible Matching

Powerful Search

Common In Business
Cons ❌

Limitations and potential drawbacks of the Excel function

CONCAT

Not Backward Compatible

Limited Formatting

Functions with restricted formatting capabilities, reducing customization options Click to see all.

SORT

Requires Modern Excel

Functions only available in recent versions of Excel Click to see all.

Space Requirements

Resource Intensive

Functions that consume significant computer memory and processing power Click to see all.

VLOOKUP

Left To Right Only

Can Be Slow With Large Datasets

Functions that process large amounts of data may significantly impact spreadsheet performance Click to see all.

Right-Only Search

Functions that can only search from right to left in text Click to see all.

Can Be Slow

Ratings Comparison

Alternatives to CONCAT

Known for Extract Rightmost Characters

⚙ performs better than CONCAT

Known for Text Extraction

📊 is easier to use than CONCAT

Known for Text Joining

⚙ performs better than CONCAT

Known for Text Search And Position Finding

Known for Advanced Filtering

📈 is more versatile than CONCAT

Known for Replace Specific Text

🔢 needs fewer arguments than CONCAT

Known for Removing Non-Printable Characters

Known for Case-Sensitive Comparison

📊 is easier to use than CONCAT

⚙ performs better than CONCAT

Known for Remove Extra Spaces

📊 is easier to use than CONCAT

⚙ performs better than CONCAT

Known for Character Count Calculation

📊 is easier to use than CONCAT

⚙ performs better than CONCAT