The application widely considered the first spreadsheet program is VisiCalc, developed in 1979 by Dan Bricklin and Bob Frankston. This groundbreaking software transformed how businesses handled financial calculations and data organization. VisiCalc allowed users to create tables, perform calculations, and model financial scenarios, making it an essential tool for professionals. Its success paved the way for future spreadsheet applications, such as Microsoft Excel, which expanded on the functionality provided by VisiCalc and became a standard in many industries.