# Analyst

> A built-in Microsoft 365 Copilot agent that analyses spreadsheets and data by writing and running Python code you can see and check.

**Category:** Copilot

**Analyst is Copilot's specialist for data work.** Attach an Excel workbook or CSV, or point it at data already indexed in your tenant, and ask for a trend, a forecast or a breakdown. Analyst writes Python to answer, runs it and returns charts and findings, with the **code visible in real time** so you can trace how each number was produced.

It shares a monthly cap of twenty-five queries per user with [Researcher](/glossary#researcher), and Microsoft ships it as-is, so you cannot customise it in [Agent Builder](/glossary#agent-builder). Analyst returns its analysis in the chat; it does not save a finished workbook back to a folder on your computer.

## At work

A finance assistant attaches three regional expense sheets with different column names and asks Analyst to combine them and chart spend by category, then checks the Python before forwarding the chart.

## Often confused with

Advanced analysis in Excel. Both run visible Python, but advanced analysis works inside the one workbook you have open, while Analyst handles questions across several files or Graph-indexed sources.

## Related terms

- Researcher
- Advanced analysis
- Microsoft Graph
- Agent

## See it in a lesson

[Researcher and Analyst](/en/learn/copilot/working-smart/researcher-and-analyst)

## Further reading

- [Get started with Analyst in Microsoft Copilot (Microsoft Support)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365-copilot/get-started-with-analyst-in-microsoft-365-copilot): How to open Analyst and run your first analysis.
- [Explore prebuilt Microsoft Copilot agents (Microsoft Learn)](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/training/modules/explore-prebuilt-microsoft-365-copilot-agents/): Microsoft's training module on Analyst, Researcher and the other prebuilt agents.

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Last updated: 14/10/2026  
Source: Rollo Academy glossary