Which feature is used to set rules for automatic styling of cells based on conditions?

The feature used to set rules for automatic styling of cells based on specific conditions is conditional formatting. This functionality allows users to define criteria that, when met, will trigger changes in how a cell or range of cells appears. For instance, you can change the background color, font color, or even the font style of a cell based on its contents, which can be particularly useful for visualizing data trends, flagging important values, or indicating statuses.

By utilizing conditional formatting, users can quickly interpret the data within their sheets without manual updates. This helps maintain clarity and allows for immediate recognition of important information simply at a glance.

The other options focus on different functionalities within Smartsheet rather than on automatic styling. Cell linking pertains to connecting data between different sheets or cells, data validation is used to restrict the types of data entered into a cell, and cell history tracks changes made to cell values over time, which does not involve styling based on conditions. Thus, the focus of the correct choice is on visual management of data through predefined styling rules based on content conditions.