What is the difference between databases and spreadsheets?

Nothing much, really. Other than the fact that a real database might contain ALOT MORE of data than a spreadsheet can. ALSO: The database might contain specific data in any field. Much more spesific that any spreadsheet can. Example: BLOB's. Binear Large Object B's. Those can contain almost anything. There are more details around this, but, anyway, a real database is something much more powerful than any spreadsheet (today anyways).