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Lesson 1 of 104 3 min Updated Completed

Excel Window Parts and Their Names

Welcome to the first lesson of this free Excel course. Before you start entering data, it helps to know what each part of the Excel window is called. You’ll see these names in every lesson, and knowing them makes it much easier to follow instructions and find commands quickly.

Here is the Excel window we’ll explore. The sections below point out each part.

The Microsoft Excel window with a blank worksheet open

1. Title bar

The title bar runs across the very top of the window. It shows the name of the open workbook and holds the minimize, maximize and close buttons on the right.

The Excel title bar showing the workbook name at the top of the window

2. Quick Access Toolbar

The Quick Access Toolbar is the small row of buttons in the top-left corner, such as Save, Undo and Redo. You can add the commands you use most, which is covered in How to Customize the Quick Access Toolbar.

The Quick Access Toolbar in the top-left corner of Excel

3. Tabs

The tabs, such as File, Home, Insert and Formulas, sit just below the title bar. Click a tab to see its commands.

The Excel tabs: File, Home, Insert, Page Layout, Formulas, Data, Review and View

4. Ribbon

The Ribbon is the wide band of buttons under the tabs. It shows the commands for whichever tab is selected, organized into groups. You’ll learn to use it in the next lesson, How to Use the Excel Ribbon.

The Excel Ribbon showing the commands of the Home tab

5. Name Box and formula bar

  • The Name Box, on the left, shows the address of the selected cell, for example A1.
  • The formula bar, to its right, shows what’s in that cell: a number, some text, or a formula such as =SUM(F2+D3). You can also type and edit there.

The Name Box showing cell A1 and the formula bar showing a SUM formula

6. Cells, column headings and row headings

  • Column headings are the letters across the top (A, B, C…).
  • Row headings are the numbers down the left side (1, 2, 3…).
  • A cell is where a column and a row meet. Its address combines the two, so the cell in column B, row 3 is B3.

Excel cells with the column headings A to K and row headings 1 to 9 labelled

7. Sheet tabs, navigation buttons and scroll bars

  • Sheet tabs at the bottom switch between the worksheets in your workbook. Click + to add a new one.
  • The small navigation arrows to their left scroll through the tabs when you have many sheets.
  • The scroll bars on the right and bottom move around the worksheet.

Excel sheet tabs, navigation arrows and scroll bars at the bottom of the window

Excel has many more parts, and you’ll meet them as you go through the course. These seven are the ones you’ll use in almost every lesson.