Excel offers a couple of ways to sort your data alphabetically (text) or numerically (numbers, dates). Here's a breakdown of both methods:

Method 1: Using the Sort Buttons (Quick Sort)

This is the fastest method for basic sorting needs:

1. Select your data range: Click on any cell within the data you want to sort. This will automatically select the entire range containing your data table (including headers if present).
2. Go to the "Data" tab: In the Excel ribbon, locate the "Data" tab.
3. Sort Buttons: In the "Sort & Filter" group, you'll see two buttons:
- A to Z: Sorts your data alphabetically in ascending order (A to Z).
- Z to A: Sorts your data alphabetically in descending order (Z to A).

- For numerical data sorting, clicking either button will sort from smallest to largest by default.
4. Click the appropriate button: Depending on whether you want ascending or descending order, click the corresponding "A to Z" or "Z to A" button.

Method 2: Using the Sort Dialog Box (Advanced Sort)

This method offers more control over your sorting:

1. Select your data range: Similar to method 1, choose any cell within your data table to select the entire range.
2. Go to the "Data" tab: Navigate to the "Data" tab on the ribbon.
3. Sort Dialog Box: In the "Sort & Filter" group, click the "Sort" button. This will open the "Sort" dialog box.
4. Sort By: In the "Sort by" dropdown menu, choose the column you want to sort by first.
5. Sort On: Under "Sort On," make sure "Values" is selected (this sorts by the actual cell content).
6. Order: Choose "A to Z" for ascending alphabetical order or "Z to A" for descending. For numbers, select "Ascending" or "Descending" as needed.
7. Additional Sorts (Optional): If you want to sort by multiple columns, click "Add Level" and choose the next sorting criteria (another column, sort order, etc.).
8. Click OK: Once you've defined your sorting options, click "OK" to apply the sort.

Tips:

- To sort by case sensitivity (uppercase/lowercase differentiation), check the "Case sensitive" box in the "Sort" dialog.
- To sort by rows instead of columns, check the "My data has headers" box in the "Sort" dialog and ensure the header row is included in your selected range.

By using either method, you can efficiently sort your data alphabetically or numerically in Excel.