What distinguishes 'Remove Duplicates' from 'Filter' in Excel?

The correct answer highlights a crucial difference between the functionality of 'Remove Duplicates' and 'Filter' in Excel. 'Remove Duplicates' is specifically designed to delete duplicate rows from a selected range or table, effectively condensing the dataset by eliminating any repetitions of rows based on the values in specified columns. This means that after using 'Remove Duplicates', your data set reflects only unique entries, leading to a simplified view that contains no redundancies.

On the other hand, 'Filter' serves a different purpose by allowing users to temporarily hide data that does not meet specific criteria without altering the original dataset. When applying a filter, rows are hidden based on conditions set by the user, but all data remains intact in the background and can be redisplayed by clearing the filter.

This distinction is essential for managing datasets effectively. Understanding when to use 'Remove Duplicates' for cleaning up data and when to use 'Filter' for analysis and viewing datasets is a key skill in Excel.