Spreadsheet data is information stored in a spreadsheet program such as Excel or Google Sheets. Data stored in cells in a worksheet can be used in calculations, displayed in graphs, or sorted and filtered to find specific information.

Spreadsheets consist of columns and rows that form a grid of cells. Typically, each cell contains a single item of data. Here is an explanation of the three types of data most commonly used in spreadsheet programs:

Excel automatically recognizes dates entered in a known format. For example, if you enter 10/31, Oct 31, or Oct 31, Excel returns the value in the standard format 31-Oct.

When data is imported from a database or a business reporting system, numeric data may be transferred as text. Such situations can cause sorting problems. Look for numeric characters that are left-aligned in cells. By default, numeric values should be right-aligned.