When we go through google sheets 101 we have to define first google sheets. It is a powerful and free spreadsheet software from Google that allows you to create, edit, and share spreadsheets online. It’s user-friendly and cloud-based, which means you can access your sheets anywhere with an internet connection. There are many reasons why using Google Sheets is beneficial, including the ability to collaborate with others in real time and the convenience of automatic saving. Additionally, it offers a wide range of formulas and functions that can help you analyze data or perform calculations efficiently. Whether you’re tracking your expenses, managing your work schedule, or planning a project, Google Sheets can help simplify it all.
In this Google Sheets 101, we are going to cover the following subjects:

• Cells
• Range of Cells
• Data Types:
  • Texts
  • Numbers
  • Formulas/Functions

Cells

In Google Sheets, a cell refers to a single rectangular box that is located at the intersection of a row and a column. It is the basic unit of data storage in a spreadsheet and can contain a text, number, formula, date, or time value. Each cell has a unique address or reference, which is determined by its column letter and row number. For example, the cell located in column F and row 5 is referred to as cell F5.

Cells in Google Sheets can be formatted in various ways to make them stand out, such as changing the background color, font size, and alignment. They can also be merged or split to create larger or smaller cells, respectively. Additionally, cells can be used to create formulas that perform calculations and manipulate data based on the values in other cells.

Overall, cells are an essential part of Google Sheets as they provide a flexible way to store and organize data in a spreadsheet format.

Range of Cells

In Google Sheets, a “range of cells” refers to a group of two or more adjacent cells that are selected together for a specific purpose, such as formatting or data manipulation. A cell range is identified by the cell addresses of the upper-left and lower-right cells in the range, separated by a colon.

For example, the range of cells A1:B3 includes all cells located in the rectangle formed by the intersection of columns A and B with rows 1, 2, and 3. This range contains a total of six cells.

Ranges of cells can be selected in Google Sheets by clicking and dragging the mouse, or by clicking on the first cell in the range and then holding down the Shift key while clicking on the last cell in the range. Once a range is selected, it can be formatted or edited as a group, and certain functions and formulas can be applied to the entire range at once.

Overall, ranges of cells are an essential feature of Google Sheets, as they provide a way to work with multiple cells at once and to organize and manipulate data in a more efficient and effective manner.

Data Types

In google sheets, you should know at least 3 data types which are: Texts, Numbers, and Formulas/Functions. In addition to these basic types of values, Google Sheets also supports other types of data, such as boolean values, which are used to represent true/false or yes/no conditions, and error values, which are used to indicate that a formula or calculation is not valid.

Texts

In Google Sheets, “text” refers to any sequence of characters or symbols that are entered into a cell as a label or description. Text values are typically used to provide context or explanation for other data in the spreadsheet, such as labels for column and row headers, titles, or notes.

In a cell, text can be formatted in various ways, such as changing the font size, color, or style, or applying different alignments, borders, or backgrounds. Text can also be combined with other types of data using formulas, such as concatenating text strings or converting numbers to text.

Overall, the text is an important component of Google Sheets as it allows users to provide context and meaning to their data, and to present it in a clear and organized way.

Numbers

Numeric values are numbers that are used in mathematical calculations. They can include integers, decimals, percentages, currencies, and scientific notations. Numeric values can also be formatted as dates, times, or durations, depending on the type of data being used.

Overall, the wide range of value types supported by Google Sheets allows users to store and manipulate data in a flexible and efficient manner, and to perform a wide range of calculations and analyses on their data.

Formulas/Functions

A formula is an instruction we use to perform a calculation in google sheets. To call a formula we use the equal sign ‘=’. Formulas are always used between values, cells, and Range of cells. Let us illustrate it with an image:

1. I started the formula with the equal sign ‘=’
2. I gave google sheets my first instruction to add the value of the cells A1 and B1
3. I gave google sheets my second instruction to multiply the value of the range (A1+B1) with the value of the cell C1
4. Google sheets returned the result which is (2+4)*6 => 6*6 => 36

What about functions? Functions are built-in tools in Google Sheets that enable you to accomplish different tasks with data sets quickly and accurately. I am going to discuss all functions in a different post, but for now, you can review this post for more information: Basic functions in google sheets, What is a google sheets and as always check About Google Sheets.

Google Sheets 101 Conclusion

To conclude, we can see that Google Sheets is an efficient tool for organizing, storing, and analyzing data. Cells and the Range of cells are the basic building blocks of all Google Sheets, which hold a range of data types including texts, numbers, and formulas/functions. Using these tools will enable users to develop powerful spreadsheets with their own unique functionalities.