What does 'merge center' refer to in spreadsheet applications?

The term 'merge center' in spreadsheet applications refers specifically to the action of combining multiple adjacent cells into a single cell, allowing the content of the first cell to be centered across the newly merged area. This is particularly useful in formatting spreadsheets to create headings or to visually organize data in a more readable manner.

When cells are merged, only the content of the first cell in the selection will remain, while the contents of the other cells will be discarded. The alignment of the text within the newly formed single cell is automatically centered, which enhances the presentation of the data. This function is commonly used for aesthetic purposes, to make titles more prominent or to group related information in a clear manner.

Other options reflect different functions or features of spreadsheet applications. However, they do not capture the specific nature of what 'merge center' means in terms of both merging cells and centering text.