Final answer:
In Excel, a web query is used to import data from a website directly into a worksheet, allowing for automatic updates of live data and subsequent data analysis.
Step-by-step explanation:
A web query in Excel is used to retrieve data from a website and import it directly into an Excel worksheet. This is particularly useful when you need to bring live or frequently updated information from the web, such as stock prices, weather reports, sports scores, or other data sets that change over time. You can set up a web query to automatically refresh at regular intervals, thus keeping your data current without requiring manual updates. Moreover, Excel allows you to manipulate and analyze this data once it is imported, just as you would with data entered manually or through other sources.
Web queries are a form of data connection in Excel that is very useful for scenarios where integrated, up-to-date information is crucial for your analysis or reporting tasks.