What is the purpose of the IF function in Excel?

The IF function in Excel is primarily designed to evaluate a specific condition and then return different values based on whether that condition is true or false. This logical function allows users to set criteria within their spreadsheets, enabling them to make decisions based on the data. For example, you might use the IF function to determine whether sales targets were met, returning "Yes" if the target is achieved and "No" if it is not. This versatility makes the IF function especially powerful for analyzing data and conducting business logic within Excel.

The other options serve different purposes: one performs calculations, another sorts data, and the last one sums values. Each of these functions addresses specific tasks in Excel, while the IF function uniquely allows for conditional decision-making.