A spreadsheet is an interactive computer application program for organization and analysis
of data in tabular form. Spreadsheets developed as
computerized simulations of paper accounting worksheets.
The program operates on data represented as cells of an array, organized in
rows and columns. Each cell of the array is a model–view–controller element that can contain either
numeric or text data, or the results of formulas that automatically calculate and
display a value based on the contents of other cells.
The user of the spreadsheet can make changes in any stored
value and observe the effects on calculated values. This makes the spreadsheet
useful for "what-if" analysis since many cases can be rapidly
investigated without tedious manual recalculation. Modern spreadsheet software
can have multiple interacting sheets, and can display data either as text and
numerals, or in graphical form.
In addition to the fundamental operations of arithmetic and
mathematical functions, modern spreadsheets provide built-in functions for
common financial and statistical operations. Such calculations as net present
value or standard deviation can be applied to tabular data with a
pre-programmed function in a formula. Spreadsheet programs also provide conditional
expressions, functions to convert between text and numbers, and functions that
operate on strings of
text.
Spreadsheets have now replaced paper-based systems
throughout the business world. Although they were first developed for
accounting or bookkeeping tasks, they now are used extensively in any context
where tabular lists are built, sorted, and shared.
Visicalc was the
first electronic spreadsheet on a microcomputer, and it helped turn the Apple II
computer into a
popular and widely used system. Lotus 1-2-3 was the leading spreadsheet when DOS was the dominant operating system. Excel now has the largest market share on
the Windows and Macintosh platforms. A spreadsheet program is a standard
feature of an office
productivity suite; since the advent of web apps, office suites
now also exist in web app form.
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