This would be a database. Properly termed, the rows are records and the columns are fields. A spreadsheet, though used frequently as a "poor man's database," is properly used for calculations such as a profit and loss statement or a balance sheet for a business.
So, the question that may be asked is, why is Excel (a spreadsheet program) often used for database-like display of data? The reason is that there are few easily-found basic database programs available nowadays. One of the last that I have often used with clients was the database feature in Microsoft Works. However, Works 9.0 was the last version and that was released back in September 2007. The program is no longer under development.
Most database programs produced today are relational databases, such as Microsoft Access, MySQL, Microsoft's MSSQL, etc. Those are beyond the needs of most folks who want to have a simple flat database such as a personal address book or an inventory of their DVDs or music CDs. The power of a relational database is its ability to associate various types of data by certain relationships.
To explain, consider a college. There are various sections of, say, English 101. Each has the same course description and curriculum but the location, time, and instructor changes from one section to another as do the enrolled students, their grades, majors, etc. So, how is all this handled? Each section of English 101 is given a certain identifier. All students also have their own identifiers (such as a student number). So, when the student enrolls, rather than duplicate the student's name, address, phone number, email address, and other information, a table is produced in which the student's identifier and the section's identifier are referenced. This way, when someone wants to gather a student roll for the section, all the database has to do is find those in the table who have that section's identifier and then use the student numbers to build the required report with all the students' information.
To take this further, if someone wished a report on all the courses that the student had completed with a grade above a C, then the database could be queried for all records for the student number and then filtered by the grade field so that only the courses matching that request would be displayed.
This is the power of the relational database and is great for those who want or need to make use of it but, as I said, that is typically beyond what the typical end-user needs. Since there are so few flat database options available nowadays and Excel is readily available since it comes with every edition of Microsoft Office (specifically, Home and Student, Home and Business, and Professional), it is used as a poor substitute. It does not have the capability to perform searches such as a true database nor can it provide reports such as either a flat database or relational database allows. It is only a convenient way to provide a similar look without the functionality. For those who need only to display the data in a static format, such as a chore chart for the kids or a work schedule for the staff, this works well enough but it is by no means a database.
Software primarily used to create, edit, and format worksheets includes spreadsheet applications like Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, and Apple Numbers. These programs allow users to organize data in rows and columns, perform calculations, create charts, and analyze information. They offer various formatting options to enhance the presentation of data and provide tools for collaboration and sharing.
Software performs calculations based on algorithms and instructions defined within its code. These instructions are executed by the computer's processor, which interprets and processes the commands given by the software. The software may also rely on user input or predefined parameters to determine the specific calculations to perform. Overall, the combination of programming logic and data inputs guides the software in executing calculations.
electronic spreadsheetThe specialised software for this is a 'spreadsheet', probably the most common such software these days is Microsoft Excel. Where most of the data is numbers, then it is best to use a spreadsheet. A database is also capable of doing these calculations, and if calculations are based on text, like you were counting how many different department names there are in a company, a database is better. Most word-processing software also allows a table of rows and columns to be defined in a document and the same sort of calculations can then be carried out within the table, though this would be rarely used for anything more than very simple calculations, and most word processor users would not even be aware that you can do calculations in a word processing table.
Spreadsheets are divided into columns and rows. Columns are typically labeled with letters (A, B, C, etc.), while rows are labeled with numbers (1, 2, 3, etc.). This grid structure allows users to organize and manipulate data effectively, making it easy to perform calculations and analyze information across different data sets. Each cell within the grid is identified by its column and row coordinates, such as A1 or B2.
Formulas are mathematical instructions that perform calculations.
In mathematics, an array is an arrangement of objects, numbers, or symbols in rows and columns. It is often used to organize data in a structured format, making it easier to analyze or perform calculations. Arrays can represent matrices in linear algebra or be used in programming for data storage and manipulation. The concept is fundamental in various mathematical fields and applications.
Yes they do. Spreadsheets are very good at doing What-If calculations. There are lots of functions available, like the IF function, to help. Other facilities can also be used, so spreadsheets are ideal for it. They are used extensively for doing what-if calculations.
When a set of objects is arranged in rows and columns, it is commonly referred to as a "matrix." In mathematics, a matrix is a rectangular array of numbers, symbols, or expressions, organized in rows and columns. This arrangement is used in various fields, including algebra, computer science, and statistics, to represent data and perform calculations.
All legal Excel calculations.
calculate
it means a sequence of numbers and letters to send you to a specific location. (I had this question as homework at school)
The main reason for Excel is to perform calculations.