Power BI Terms: A to Z Glossary

Power BI is a business analytics service provided by Microsoft. It offers interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities with an interface simple enough for end users to create reports and dashboards. Power BI is part of the Microsoft Power Platform and helps users integrate data from various sources to develop cohesive, visually immersive, and interactive insights. Whether you're analyzing data, sharing insights, or collaborating with your team, understanding Power BI terminology is essential for leveraging all its capabilities effectively.

This glossary is designed to acquaint you with the essential terms used in Power BI, making it easier to navigate the platform and use for your data analysis and reporting needs. It benefits those preparing for certification exams, enhancing job-related skills, or implementing Power BI solutions in their business processes.

Power BI Terms 

You’ll find common Power BI  terms in the glossary below. 

Calculated Column

A calculated column is a new one you create by defining an expression (formula) based on other columns or calculations. Unlike measures, calculated columns store their results in the model, allowing for direct referencing in other calculations and visualizations.

DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)

DAX is a library of functions and operators that can be combined to build formulas and expressions in Power BI. These perform advanced calculations and queries on data modeled in Power BI.

Data Model

The data model is the data structure inside Power BI, where tables are linked through relationships. The model provides a way to organize tables and load data into a format that can be easily used to create visualizations.

Data set

A data set in Power BI is a collection of data that you import or connect to and use to create your reports. Datasets can be sourced from various data services, databases, and files.

Dashboard

A dashboard is a collection of visualizations shared on a single canvas in Power BI. It is the primary way to share insights, tell stories, and monitor processes using data from one or multiple reports.

Filter

Filters in Power BI allow you to display only the data you want to see in reports or visualizations. They can be applied at various levels, including the visual, page, or report level.

Gateway

A Power BI gateway is software installed within an on-premises network; it facilitates the secure transfer of data between that network and the Power BI service.

Measure

A measure is a formula created for data analysis and is used in report visualizations. Unlike calculated columns, measures are dynamic and calculated on the fly based on the context of the report view.

Power Query

Power Query is a tool within Power BI that allows for data transformation and cleaning. It's a powerful ETL tool (Extract, Transform, Load) that lets you import, cleanse, and integrate data from various sources.

Report

A report in Power BI is a collection of visualizations that appear on one or more pages. Reports are based on a single data set and are fully customizable.

Slicer

A slicer is a Power BI visualization used to filter data. It provides a way for users to quickly and easily filter the information displayed in other visualizations on a report.

Tile

A tile is a single visualization found on a dashboard in Power BI. It could be a chart, graph, map, or other visual element representing your data.

Visualizations

Visualizations in Power BI are the visual representations of your data, including charts, graphs, and maps. They provide dynamic and interactive ways to present and analyze data insights.

Learn more: Enhance your ability to communicate complex data clearly with Data Visualization Courses in Power BI.

Workspace

A workspace in Power BI is a container or environment for dashboards, reports, datasets, and dataflows. It is used to collaborate with colleagues and manage content distribution within an organization.

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