Excel

TL;DR

• A spreadsheet program for organizing, calculating, and analyzing data.
• Provides built-in formulas and visualization tools (pivot tables, graphs) for quick analysis and reporting.
• Commonly used for budgets, financial modeling, and business reporting by individuals and organizations.

Definition

Excel is a spreadsheet program that is part of the Microsoft Office suite. It is widely used for data analysis, financial modeling, and business reporting. Excel allows users to organize, calculate, and analyze large amounts of data quickly and efficiently.

Explanation

Excel enables users to structure data in spreadsheets and apply built-in formulas to perform calculations and aggregate results. It supports importing large datasets and provides functions to sort, filter, and organize data for analysis. Visualization features such as pivot tables and graphs help present results clearly. Excel offers advanced features and customization options that let users create sophisticated spreadsheets, making it useful across many roles and industries.

Examples

Budget

Set up a spreadsheet with columns for different spending categories (such as groceries, rent, and utilities), then input monthly expenses and income. Excel’s built-in formulas can automatically calculate totals and track the balance, allowing users to see where their money is going and make adjustments to stay within their budget.

Data analysis

Import large datasets into a spreadsheet and use Excel’s functions and formulas to sort, filter, and organize the data. This enables quick analysis of trends and patterns for business decisions or research. Visualization tools, such as pivot tables and graphs, help present the data in a clear and concise way.

Use cases

• Data analysis
• Financial modeling
• Business reporting
• Personal and organizational budgeting
• Supporting business decisions and research

Related terms

• Microsoft Office suite
• Spreadsheet
• Formulas and functions
• Pivot tables
• Graphs