In spreadsheet terms, what does an absolute cell reference signify?

An absolute cell reference signifies that the reference to a specific cell remains constant, regardless of where the formula containing the reference is copied or moved within a spreadsheet. This is useful in various scenarios, such as when you want to refer to a fixed value, like a tax rate or a constant figure, that should not change as calculations are performed in different rows or columns.

When using an absolute reference, the cell address includes dollar signs (e.g., $A$1), which indicate that both the column and row are fixed. This ensures that any formula that uses this reference will always pull the same information from the specified cell, allowing for reliable calculations across multiple uses of the formula throughout the spreadsheet.

By contrast, a relative cell reference would adjust based on the new location of the formula when copied. Therefore, understanding the distinction between absolute and relative references is essential for effective spreadsheet management and accurate data analysis.