Sorting and filtering in Excel are superpowers for organizing your data.Here's a breakdown to make it easy:

Sorting: Imagine arranging your data list alphabetically or numerically. Sorting does just that, putting your information in a specific order.

Steps o sort:

1. Click anywhere in your data: Choose a cell within the column you want to sort by (e.g., names, dates, prices).
2. Go to the "Data" tab: Look for the ribbon at the top of your Excel window. Click on the "Data" tab.
3. Find the "Sort & Filter" group: Within the "Data" tab, locate the group titled "Sort & Filter."
4. Choose your sort order: There are two main ways to sort:

- Quick Sort: Click the sort arrows (A to Z or Z to A) next to the header row of the column you want to sort by. This offers ascending or descending order based on the data type (text, numbers, dates).

- Custom Sort: Click the "Sort" button within the "Sort & Filter" group. This opens the "Sort" dialog box for more control.

Sort: Click this button for more options. Here's what you can do:
- Sort By: Choose the column you want to sort by (it should already be selected if you clicked in the data).
- Order: Pick "Ascending" (A to Z or smallest to largest) or "Descending" (Z to A or largest to smallest).
- Additional Levels (Optional): If your data has multiple columns, you can sort by a second or third level by clicking "Add Level" and choosing another column and sort order.

5. Click "OK": Once you've chosen your sort options, click "OK" to apply the sorting.
Filtering:

Filtering allows you to temporarily hide unwanted data and focus on specific information.

Steps:

1. Click the filter arrow: In the header row of your data, look for a small down arrow next to the column you want to filter. Click on that arrow.

2. Choose filtering options: You'll see various filtering options depending on your data type (text, numbers, dates). Here are some common ones:

- Text Filters: Choose options like "Text contains," "Does not contain," "Begins with," etc., and then enter your criteria.
- Number Filters: Select options like "Equals to," "Greater than," "Less than," etc., and enter your desired number.
- Date Filters: Filter by dates or date ranges using similar criteria as number filters.

3. Select what to show: Check the boxes next to the data you want to keep visible. Unchecked items will be hidden.

4. Click "OK" (Optional): Some filtering options might require you to click "OK" to apply the filter.

5. Clear filters (Optional): To see all your data again, click the filter arrow and choose "Clear Filters" from the menu.

Remember:

Sorting permanently rearranges your data, while filtering hides unwanted data temporarily (it's still there, just not visible).

You can combine sorting and filtering for even more specific views of your data.

Practice makes perfect.Play around with sorting and filtering data in a sample spreadsheet to get comfortable with these essential Excel skills.