Does a spreadsheet count as a database?

Are Excel spreadsheets a database?

Since its initial release in 1985, Microsoft Excel has grown to become a necessity for companies everywhere. It's the most widely used spreadsheet software among the business community, and has been a robust tool for simple analysis and budgeting.

Is a spreadsheet considered a database?

While there are similarities between a spreadsheet and a database, a spreadsheet is not a database. These two separate software tools are complementary and are frequently used in tandem.

Is spreadsheet the same as a database?

The main technical difference between a spreadsheet and a database comes down to the way they store data. In a spreadsheet, data is stored in a cell, and can be formatted, edited, and manipulated within that cell. In a database, cells contain records that come from external tables.

Why is a spreadsheet not a database?

Spreadsheet apps offer some filtering and querying, but there are caveats. Seeing data in a particular order, for example, typically requires making changes to the sheet itself. Databases, meanwhile, allow for really specific and fast querying and reporting without actually affecting the data.