What does the SUMIF function do?

The SUMIF function is designed to add up all the numbers in a specified range that meet certain criteria. This function is particularly useful when you want to perform conditional summation; for instance, if you want to sum sales figures only for a particular product or for sales made in a certain region.

The syntax typically includes the range to be evaluated for criteria, the specific criteria itself, and the range of values to sum. By applying the criteria, SUMIF filters through the data, ensuring only relevant entries contribute to the total, thereby providing a targeted and precise result that suits specific analysis needs.

This capability of SUMIF allows for greater flexibility and efficiency in data analysis compared to simply summing all values indiscriminately, averaging entries, or counting occurrences, which are functionalities addressed by other functions or methods.