Which term describes a structured collection of data stored electronically that can be searched and sorted quickly?

• A. Spreadsheet
• B. Archive
• C. Ledger
• D. Database

Answer: (D)

A database is a structured collection of data stored electronically that can be searched and sorted quickly. It uses a database management system to organize records in a way that supports fast queries, filtering, and ordering across large datasets. A spreadsheet can store data and perform sorts, but it isn’t optimized for rapid searches across many records as data grows. An archive is for long-term storage of older files, not for quick retrieval. A ledger records transactions, typically in a specific domain like accounting, and isn’t geared toward flexible search across diverse data. So, the term that best fits a structured, searchable, quickly sortable collection is a database.