#computerbasics2026

Excel is the world's most popular spreadsheet software, used for everything from simple grocery lists to complex financial modeling. At its core, it is a giant grid designed to organize data and perform calculations automatically.

1. The Anatomy of a Spreadsheet

Before you dive into data, you need to know the "geography" of the screen:

Workbook & Worksheet: An Excel file is a workbook. Inside it, you can have multiple worksheets (tabs at the bottom).

Columns & Rows: Columns are vertical and labeled with letters (A, B, C). Rows are horizontal and labeled with numbers (1, 2, 3).

Cell: The intersection of a column and a row. Every cell has an address (e.g., A1 or C10).

Formula Bar: The long white bar above the grid where you can see or edit the "behind-the-scenes" content of a cell.

2. Basic Data Entry

You can type three main things into a cell:

Text (Labels): Names, dates, or descriptions.

Numbers (Values): Raw data used for math.

Formulas: Instructions that tell Excel to do math.

3. Essential Formulas & Functions

All formulas in Excel must start with an equals sign (=). If you don't type the =, Excel treats your entry as plain text.

The Basic Operators

Addition: +

Subtraction: -

Multiplication: *

Division: /

Top 4 "Starter" Functions

Instead of typing =A1+A2+A3..., you use functions: function, what it does, example, SUM Adds a range of cells together. =SUM(A1:A10)AVERAGE: Finds the mathematical mean. =AVERAGE(B1:B5)COUNT: Counts how many cells contain numbers. =COUNT(C1:C20)MAX/MIN finds the highest or lowest value. =MAX(D1:D10)Export to Sheets

4. Time-Saving Features

AutoFill: See that tiny green square in the bottom-right corner of a selected cell? Click and drag it down to continue a pattern (like dates or days of the week) or copy a formula.

Formatting: Use the "Home" tab to turn numbers into currency ($) or percentages or change colors to make the data readable.

Sorting & Filtering: Located on the "Data" tab, this allows you to organize a list alphabetically or hide rows that don't meet specific criteria.

5. Absolute vs. Relative References

This is the "aha!" moment for most beginners:

Relative Reference: If you copy =A1+1 down one row, it becomes =A2+1.

Absolute Reference: If you want a cell to stay "locked" when you copy it, use dollar signs (e.g., $A$1). This is useful for tax rates or constant values.

What is the first project you're planning to tackle with Excel?