A data lookup is the process of retrieving specific information from a structured file or information set. Using a data lookup is a way to retrieve information from a file based on specific rules, requirements, or queries. There are several different kinds of data lookups, each with varying levels of complexity. These include
- Simple lookups: retrieving data using one value. An example of this would be searching a customer’s name in a database to find their shipping address.
- Complex lookups: retrieving data using multiple values or queries. An example of this would be searching for a retail order using the products sold and the shipping destination of an item.
- Exact match lookups: retrieving data using an exact search term. This is typically only used when one search can provide only one return. An example of this would be searching for an exact address using a postal code.
- Approximate match lookups: retrieving data based on close matches or ranges of values rather than one specific value. An example of this would be searching for a street in a city to show all the homes on that street.
Data lookups are vital for quickly and accurately retrieving information in datasets. They serve great use in data analysis, reporting, and integration tasks. Data lookups allow efficient data retrieval and allow organizations to more accurately and quickly use the data they have available to them.