VLOOKUP to SQL Server LEFT JOIN

VLOOKUP walks a range. SQL joins a table. Same idea: match a key, bring a column back.

SELECT t.order_id, t.customer_id, c.last_name
FROM Orders t
LEFT JOIN Customers c ON c.customer_id = t.customer_id;

FALSE (exact) is an INNER or LEFT JOIN. TRUE (range) is a BETWEEN against a band table — do not fake it with LIKE.

Canonical translation

SELECT t.order_id, t.customer_id, c.last_name
FROM Orders t
LEFT JOIN Customers c ON c.customer_id = t.customer_id;