Columns and rows are a fundamental part of any spreadsheet program, whether it's Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets, OpenOffice Calc, LibreOffice Calc, or some other software.
Spreadsheets are organized in a workbook by worksheets, and within each worksheet is a collection of cells where data resides. The cells of a spreadsheet are positioned in a grid pattern via columns and rows.
What's the Difference?
Mixing up the definition of rows and columns is easy, but knowing the difference is important when learning how to structure a spreadsheet or when following a tutorial.
Columns run vertically, up and down. Using the image above, we can see that A, B, and C are columns because they're located at the top of the spreadsheet. They're there to align the cells below them. Most spreadsheet programs mark columns headings with letters.
Rows, then, are the opposite of columns and run horizontally. The rows in our image include 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5.
One easy way to remember the difference between columns and rows is to think about real-world scenarios. A column on a building is a large, vertical pillar, while the rows of a corn field are long aisles.