What does the TRIM function do in a spreadsheet?

The TRIM function in a spreadsheet is designed specifically to clean up text by removing unnecessary spaces. It effectively eliminates leading and trailing spaces—that is, any spaces before the first character and after the last character of a text string. Additionally, it also reduces multiple spaces between words to a single space, ensuring that the text remains legible and correctly formatted.

This function is particularly useful when importing data that may contain inconsistencies in spacing, which can lead to errors in data processing or analysis. By using TRIM, users can ensure that the text string they are working with is tidy and conforms to a standard format, ultimately improving the integrity of their data.