Which Excel feature is used to find specific categories of information in a spreadsheet?

The feature that is best suited for finding specific categories of information in a spreadsheet is the FILTER function. This function allows users to extract a subset of data from a range based on specified criteria. When you apply the FILTER function, you can define conditions that the data must meet, and the result will display only those entries that satisfy the conditions, thus making it an effective tool for searching and categorizing information.

In contrast, while COUNTIF is a useful function for counting the number of entries that meet a certain condition, it does not extract or display the actual data points. AVERAGEIF averages the values that meet specific criteria but does not filter or categorize data for display. Similarly, SUMIF calculates the total of values that meet a certain condition, but again, it does not provide a way to view the specific data points that fit into those categories. Therefore, FILTER stands out as the most appropriate choice for finding and displaying specific categories of information in a spreadsheet.