A spreadsheet is a computer program that can capture, display, and manipulate data arranged in rows and columns. It is a tool for computation, organization, analysis, and storage of data in tabular form. Spreadsheets were developed as computerized analogs of paper accounting worksheets and have replaced paper-based systems throughout the business world. A spreadsheet program is one of the main components of an office productivity suite, which usually also contains a word processor, a presentation program, and a database management system.

Some key features of spreadsheets include:

• Cells: Spaces that hold items of data are called spreadsheet cells. These can be renamed to better reflect the data they hold and can be cross-referenced through row numbers and column letters.
• Worksheets: In modern spreadsheet applications, several spreadsheets, often known as worksheets or simply sheets, are gathered together to form a workbook. A workbook is physically represented by a file containing all the data for the book, the sheets, and the cells with the sheets.
• Numerical data: A spreadsheet is generally designed to hold numerical data and short text strings.
• Manipulation and analysis: Spreadsheets make it easy to manipulate data. You can add, subtract, divide, and multiply datasets, and analyze data using built-in functions.

Spreadsheets are used extensively in any context where tabular lists are built, sorted, and shared. They are ideal for financial data, such as checking account information, budgets, taxes, transactions, billing, invoices, receipts, forecasts, and any payment system. Spreadsheets are also used for creating form templates to manage performance reviews, timesheets, surveys, and other tasks.

Although spreadsheets are widely used, they have some disadvantages. For example, they are prone to errors, reporting is painful, and visualizing data is difficult. Critical customer data is also at risk if spreadsheets are not secure.