What is the purpose of the IF function in Excel?

The IF function in Excel is fundamentally designed to perform a logical test and return different values based on whether that test evaluates to true or false. This enables users to implement decision-making capabilities within their spreadsheets. For instance, you might use the IF function to determine if a student has passed based on their score: if their score is greater than or equal to 60, they pass, otherwise they fail. This flexibility allows for dynamic data analysis, as it lets users tailor outputs according to specified conditions.

The other functions mentioned serve different purposes. One calculates the average, another formats cells based on set rules, and the last counts how many cells meet certain criteria, which are each valuable in their own contexts but do not encapsulate the conditional logic that is the essence of the IF function.