What does the DATEDIF function calculate in Excel?

The DATEDIF function in Excel is designed specifically to calculate the difference between two dates, and it allows for that difference to be expressed in a variety of units, including years, months, or days. The versatility of this function makes it particularly useful for financial analyses, project timelines, or any situation where understanding the passage of time between two dates is necessary.

When using DATEDIF, you can specify the unit of measurement you prefer for the result. For example, if you want to find out how many complete years exist between two dates, you can use the "Y" parameter in the function. Similarly, choosing "M" will yield the number of complete months, and "D" will provide the total number of days.

This function does not calculate differences in seconds or specifically work with considerations for weekdays. Neither does it determine the number of days in a month; it strictly pertains to the elapsed time between two specified dates. Thus, the selection of this response highlights the core functionality of the DATEDIF function in calculating date differences in a flexible manner.