A spreadsheet is a computer application or program that enables the user
to tabulate and collate data. This data can then be used to make
calculations, show graphical representations or analysis.
A spreadsheet comprises of a grid of ‘cells’ arranged in rows and columns and information can be inserted into each cell.
Each cell can contain text, numbers and formulas.
A
formula is a calculation based from the contents of cells or a total of
a combination of cells. The total in that formula can change if the
content of the combination cells used is also amended.
Spreadsheets can be useful for home budgeting or accounting and they make it easy to display information.
Spreadsheets
can consist of a number of different worksheets that can include
different data as well as enabling cells on one worksheet to be used and
referenced on other different worksheets.
Information can also be sorted and filtered by a spreadsheet.
The
Microsoft Office spreadsheet is called Excel but there are open office
spreadsheets available, including internet based web apps such as Google
spreadsheets.
Spreadsheets have a number of tools included to
support many different types of calculations and can include graphical
presentations such as graphs, pie charts etc.