Lists in SharePoint are containers that let you view and maintain information, just as with an Excel spreadsheet or a database table. Just like spreadsheets or database tables, lists have columns and rows. Each column identifies the type of information that gets stored in the list. Each row, also called a list item, stores said information. SharePoint comes with a set of ready-to-use templates that can be used to create lists with built-in functionality. Examples of such lists are Announcements, Contacts, and Tasks lists. All lists come with some standard and useful features, such as the following:

• The ability to add or remove various types of columns as needed
• The ability to specify validations for the columns (such as maximum field lengths, whether a field is required or not, and so on)
• The ability to customize the organization of information...