You can split a single column of text into multiple columns e.g. split the first name and surname from one cell into two.

Another example where you can use this function is if you have data that is separated by commas, spaces, or semi-colons.  An example here would be a bank statement.  If you download a bank statement it gives you the option to download is as a CSV (Comma Separated Value) file. This means that each column is separated by a comma.  By using the text to columns function, you can make the file readable.