What Is Excel?

Microsoft Excel is a spreadsheet program developed by Microsoft as part of the Microsoft Office suite. It is widely used for organizing, analyzing, and storing data in a tabular format (rows and columns). Excel provides powerful tools for calculations, data visualization, and automation.

Key Features of Excel:

1. Spreadsheets & Cells:
   1. Data is stored in worksheets made up of rows (numbered) and columns (lettered).
   1. Each intersection is called a cell (e.g., A1, B2).
2. Formulas & Functions:
   1. Perform calculations using built-in functions like:
      1. SUM, AVERAGE, VLOOKUP, IF, COUNT, etc.
   1. Example: =SUM(A1:A10) adds values from cells A1 to A10.
3. Charts & Graphs:
   1. Create visual representations of data (bar charts, pie charts, line graphs, etc.).
4. PivotTables:
   1. Summarize and analyze large datasets dynamically.
5. Data Sorting & Filtering:
   1. Organize data alphabetically, numerically, or by custom criteria.
6. Macros & Automation (VBA):
   1. Use Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) to automate repetitive tasks.
7. Data Import/Export:
   1. Supports CSV, TXT, SQL databases, and other formats.
8. Collaboration & Cloud Integration:
   1. Works with Microsoft 365 (Excel Online) for real-time sharing.

Common Uses of Excel:

• Financial analysis & budgeting
• Business reporting & dashboards
• Inventory management
• Academic research & data analysis
• Project planning & scheduling

Excel File Formats:

• .xlsx (Standard Excel Workbook)
• .xls (Legacy Excel format)
• .csv (Comma-Separated Values)
• .xlsm (Macro-enabled Workbook)