In spreadsheet software such as Microsoft Excel, what is the name for the basic unit of the worksheet formed at the intersection of a column and a row?

Introduction / Context:
Spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets organise data in a grid made up of horizontal rows and vertical columns. Where a row and a column cross, they form a basic box where you can enter a value or formula. This question asks you to recall the standard term used for that basic unit in the grid, which is fundamental vocabulary for working with spreadsheets in any context.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The software in question is a spreadsheet program.
• The worksheet is arranged as rows and columns.
• We are interested in the location where one row and one column intersect.
• Options include cell, menu, key, field and chart area.

Concept / Approach:
In spreadsheets, the intersection of a row and a column is called a cell. Each cell can hold a number, text, date or formula, and is referenced by a cell address such as A1 or C5. Menu refers to a list of commands in the program interface, not to the grid. Key is a vague term and usually relates to keyboard keys. The word field is more commonly used in database tables, although conceptually similar, the standard spreadsheet term is cell. Chart area refers to a graphical object, not the basic grid location. Therefore, the correct term for the intersection of a row and a column in a spreadsheet is cell.

Step-by-Step Solution:

Verification / Alternative check:
Spreadsheet documentation, help files and tutorials consistently refer to each grid box as a cell. They instruct users to click on a cell, type data into a cell, or format cells. Database materials, by contrast, talk about records and fields in tables. While a cell in a database table could informally be called a field value, the exam question specifically mentions spreadsheet software, where cell is the standard term. Chart features are discussed separately under creating or formatting charts, not under basic grid concepts. This consistent usage confirms that cell is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:

• Menu item: Part of the application’s command interface; it is not part of the worksheet grid.
• Key: Usually refers to a keyboard key or a primary identifier in databases; it is not the name for a spreadsheet grid unit.
• Field only in databases: Field is a database term for a column of data; while conceptually related, it is not the standard term used in spreadsheets.
• Chart area: Refers to the space used for graphs and charts, not the row and column intersection used for data entry.

Common Pitfalls:
New learners might mix database vocabulary with spreadsheet vocabulary and choose field instead of cell. Others may overthink the question and look for a more complex term when the simplest answer is correct. To avoid mistakes, remember that in Excel and similar tools, you work with cells, rows and columns. Each individual square you click and type into is called a cell, so the intersection of a row and a column is simply a cell.

Final Answer:
In a spreadsheet, the basic unit formed at the intersection of a column and a row is called a Cell.