The difference between the column and row is the rows are the horizontal arrangement of the objects, words, numbers, data or any other thing. On the contrary, the columns are the vertical arrangement of the objects, words, numbers, data or any other thing.
We often came across the terms like rows and columns, when we are up to arrange the data in the logical and the concise way. As both these terms are used together most of the time, people often found it difficult to differentiate between them. Both column vs row have their uses but as they are used in the matrix, spreadsheets and classroom settings too, for the purpose of bifurcating categories, groups, types and so on.
Comparison Chart
| Basis | Rows | Columns |
| Definition | The row is the arrangement in the horizontal form, from right to left. | Column is the arrangement in the vertical form, from top to bottom. |
| Spread Sheet | The row is represented by using numbers. | The column is represented by using letters. |
| Database | The information like, gender, name, age, etc. are placed in the rows. | The column contains information about someone or something which is mentioned in the rows. |
| Arrangements | Left to right. | Top to bottom. |
| Total shown in | In a row, the total is shown at the extreme right. | In column, the total is shown in the bottom. |
What is Row?
A row is a horizontal group of values within a table. It is an arrangement in which objects, words, numbers, data or any other thing are arranged face-to-face with lying next to each other on the horizontal line. The data or line runs from left to right, this type of arrangement is known as “Row.” It goes from left to right such as sitting plan of the school, colleges and exam halls, the chair set in the auditorium and movie theatre from left to right and in the horizontal way these kinds of arrangement is called row.
The terms row is widely used in different fields; nowadays it has most prominent usage on the spreadsheets like Microsoft Excel. In our daily lives, we also come across these terms multiple times. The arrangement of the data in the form of rows is to make things look more prominent and convenient for both the planner and the follower.
What is Column?
Columns also usually pertain to a dataset in a spreadsheet or table. It is the arrangement in which object, words, number or data or any other thing are arranged one after the other in the sequence on the vertical form. As the columns are split in the form of lines, it increases the readability and attractiveness of the table. In spreadsheets like MS Excel, the heading of the row is denoted using the letters.
In the tables, top-most part, caption, represent the columns. The newspapers are one of the best examples of the columns as in here the articles are divided in the form of upward and going downward. As like rows, columns are also in defining the seating arrangements and they even have the quality of easily identifying pupils/students.
Key Differences between Rows and Columns
- The row is the arrangement in the horizontal form, from right to left, whereas the column is the arrangement in the vertical form, from top to bottom.
- Rows go across, i.e. from left to right. On the contrary, Columns are arranged from up to down.
- In the spreadsheet-like MS Excel, the row is represented using numbers. Conversely, the column is represented using letters.
- In the database, information like, gender, name, age, etc. are placed in the rows while the column contains information about someone who is mentioned in the rows.
- Total of the row is placed in the extreme right corner of the respective row, whereas the total of the column is shown at the bottom.
- A matrix is an array of numbers, letters or symbols, wherein horizontal arrays are the row, whereas the vertical arrays are columns.
- In the database, the information like, gender, name, age, etc. are placed in the rows. On the other hand, the column contains information about someone or something which is mentioned in the rows.
Conclusion
Rows and Columns both are the fundamental part of any table whether, it is a spreadsheet or matrix on the basis of, to store data. In the database management system, the row (record or tuple), composed of various data fields. On the other hand, the column consists of a single data attribute or an accumulator of a single attribute in the dataset. In Excel, the intersection of rows and columns is called a cell. To avoid more confusion, just always remember that rows always go from left to right, and columns go from top to bottom. Whether used in a spreadsheet, database, tables, or classrooms, the direction of rows and columns does not change and they still remain the same.