Final answer:
When working with data in a spreadsheet program, deleting a column permanently removes it from the spreadsheet, while hiding a column makes it invisible without deleting the data.
Step-by-step explanation:
When working with data in a spreadsheet program like Microsoft Excel, you may need to either delete or hide a column.
Deleting a column means permanently removing it from the spreadsheet. This is useful when you no longer need the data in that column and want to free up space. For example, if you have a column with incorrect data that you need to remove, you can delete that column.
Hiding a column, on the other hand, means making it invisible in the spreadsheet without actually deleting the data. This is helpful when you don't want to display certain information temporarily but still want to keep the data for future use. For instance, if you have sensitive information in a column that only certain people should see, you can hide that column.