Final answer:
The 'format painter' copies text formatting from one section of text to another, ensuring consistent formatting across a document.
Step-by-step explanation:
The 'format painter' is a feature in many word processing and spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft Word and Excel. Its primary use is a) Copying text formatting from one selection of text to another. This allows users to quickly apply the same formatting, such as font size, font style, color, and paragraph alignment, from one section of text to another without having to apply each formatting feature individually. For instance, if you have a heading that is bolded and italicized, using the format painter, you can click on that heading and then click on another heading to apply the same bold and italic formatting. It's a very efficient tool for ensuring consistency throughout a document.