What feature fills a column with data based on patterns in neighboring data?

What feature fills a column with data based on patterns in neighboring data?

• A. Range reference
• B. Flash Fill
• C. Live Preview
• D. Theme

Answer: (B)

Flash Fill fills a column with data by recognizing patterns in nearby data and applying them automatically to the rest of the column. When you start typing a pattern in a adjacent cell, Excel can detect how the data is structured—such as combining first and last names, reformatting phone numbers, or extracting initials—and quickly complete the remaining cells to match that pattern without you writing formulas. This makes it a powerful helper for data transformation tasks where the same pattern needs to be applied across many rows. For example, if you have a column with first and last names in one cell and you want a separate column with full names in a standard format, you can start the pattern in the first row and Flash Fill will extend it down the column. It’s different from simply selecting a range, which just designates where you’re working with data; it’s not about pattern-based filling. It’s also not about previewing formatting or applying a theme, which are separate features.

Flash Fill fills a column with data by recognizing patterns in nearby data and applying them automatically to the rest of the column. When you start typing a pattern in a adjacent cell, Excel can detect how the data is structured—such as combining first and last names, reformatting phone numbers, or extracting initials—and quickly complete the remaining cells to match that pattern without you writing formulas. This makes it a powerful helper for data transformation tasks where the same pattern needs to be applied across many rows.

For example, if you have a column with first and last names in one cell and you want a separate column with full names in a standard format, you can start the pattern in the first row and Flash Fill will extend it down the column. It’s different from simply selecting a range, which just designates where you’re working with data; it’s not about pattern-based filling. It’s also not about previewing formatting or applying a theme, which are separate features.