When you create an Excel table , Excel assigns a name to the table, and to each column header in the table. When you add formulas to an Excel table, those names can appear automatically as you enter the formula and select the cell references in the table instead of manually entering them. Here's an example of what Excel does: Instead of using explicit cell references Excel uses table and column names =Sum(C2:C7) =SUM(DeptSales[Sales Amount]) That combination of table and column names is called a structured reference. The names in structured references adjust whenever yo...