Which of the following best describes the underlying data structure that forms the basis of an electronic spreadsheet like MS Excel?​

Correct option is C

The correct answer is: (C) A two-dimensional grid composed of rows and columns intersecting to form cells

• An electronic spreadsheet like MS Excel is fundamentally based on a two-dimensional grid.

• This grid is made up of rows (numbered) and columns (lettered), and their intersection forms cells (e.g., A1, B3).

• Each cell can store text, numbers, formulas, or functions, allowing users to perform calculations, data analysis, and formatting.

• This grid structure enables the organization and manipulation of data efficiently in tabular form.

• Row and column structure provides easy reference to data locations.

• Excel allows cell referencing such as A1, B2 for formulas and functions.

• Excel supports over 1 million rows and 16,000+ columns per worksheet.

• It enables sorting, filtering, pivot tables, and charts.

• Excel uses the .xlsx file format (introduced in Excel 2007).

• Excel’s cells can contain mathematical formulas, logical conditions, and links.

• Option A – Relational database model: Used in databases like MS Access, not spreadsheets.

• Option B – Hierarchical tree structure: Common in file systems and XML data, not spreadsheets.

• Option D – Linear sequence: Applies more to text documents, not Excel's tabular format.