What is the purpose of the fill handle in spreadsheet software?

The fill handle is a powerful tool in spreadsheet software that allows users to efficiently copy the contents of a selected cell to adjacent cells. When you click and drag the fill handle, which is typically displayed as a small square at the bottom-right corner of the selected cell, it automatically populates the selected range with the same data or continues a sequence if the cell contains a series such as numbers or dates.

This feature is particularly useful for tasks like creating a series of numbers (e.g., 1, 2, 3), repeating text, or transferring formulas across multiple cells while adjusting them for their new locations. By using the fill handle, you can streamline data entry and ensure consistency across your spreadsheet.

Other options refer to different functions that do not align with the operation of the fill handle. Formatting cells is related to changing their appearance, deleting contents removes data from cells, and merging cells combines them into one larger cell, all of which serve different purposes than the filling function described.