Spreadsheets

The electronic spreadsheet is a two-dimensional grid application: it organizes data, executes complex computations via formulas, and enables powerful 'what-if' analysis.

Spreadsheets are tabular applications (rows and columns) designed to store, manipulate, and analyze quantitative data using formulas that automatically recalculate based on cell changes. This technology fundamentally changed business operations: VisiCalc, released in 1979 for the Apple II, was the first 'killer app,' replacing hours of manual bookkeeping with minutes of data entry. Lotus 1-2-3 (1982) then dominated the MS-DOS market, paving the way for the current industry leader, Microsoft Excel (1985). Modern platforms like Excel and Google Sheets handle everything from basic accounting to advanced financial modeling (e.g., net present value, regression analysis), making them essential tools for data management and forecasting across nearly every sector.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spreadsheet