What is the origin of the idiom "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut" and when to use it?

The idiom "use a sledgehammer to crack a nut" has its roots in the world of construction tools. It describes a situation where someone employs a sledgehammer, a heavy and powerful tool, to perform a task that could be accomplished with a much lighter and simpler tool, like a small hammer. This idiom is used figuratively to criticize actions that are excessively forceful, extravagant, or complicated for a relatively simple problem or task.