Tableau Desktop Specialist key terms

A connection that queries the underlying database each time a view is opened or refreshed, so the workbook always shows current data but depends on database availability and speed.

A local snapshot of source data saved in a .hyper file that Tableau can query quickly and offline; it can be refreshed on demand or on a schedule and supports extract filters.

A physical merge of two tables in the same connection that matches rows on shared fields, producing one wider table; types include inner, left, right, and full outer.

A logical link between two tables in the data model that keeps them separate and lets Tableau choose the correct join at query time based on the fields used in the view.

A row-wise stacking of two or more tables that must share the same column structure, useful for combining monthly files or similar sources into one longer table.

A toggle on the data source page that makes Tableau detect and clean up formatting such as titles, merged cells, and footers in Excel and Google Sheets files.

A data preparation step that rotates columns into rows, turning a wide crosstab-style sheet into a tall layout with one column for the category and one for the value.

A data preparation step that divides a single text field into two or more new fields using a separator or a repeating pattern, such as breaking a full name apart.

The classification Tableau assigns to a field, such as string, integer, date, or boolean, which determines the operations available and how values appear in a view.

A setting that tells Tableau which kind of location a field holds, such as country, state, city, or ZIP code, so it can be placed on a map correctly.

An alternative display name for a field or a member value that replaces the original text in views and legends without changing the underlying data.

A qualitative field used to slice and categorize data, such as product category or region; dimensions typically appear as row or column headers and as mark labels.

A quantitative field that Tableau aggregates by default, such as sales or profit; measures are placed on axes and summarized with functions like sum, average, or count.

A field role in which values are treated as separate, distinct items shown as headers and colored blue on shelves; discrete dates appear as parts like year or quarter.

A field role in which values form an unbroken range shown as an axis and colored green on shelves; continuous numbers produce a smooth scale rather than individual headers.

The process of summarizing many rows into a single value using a function such as SUM, AVG, MIN, MAX, or COUNT, controlled by the aggregation setting applied to a measure.

The control panel on the left of a worksheet that defines how rows become visual marks, with slots for type, color, size, label, detail, tooltip, and shape.

A panel that recommends and applies chart types based on the fields currently selected, offering options such as bar, line, map, scatter, and highlight table.

The fixed sequence in which Tableau applies filters, where extract filters run first, then data source filters, context filters, dimension filters, measure filters, and table calculation filters.

A new field created with a formula that can use existing fields, functions, and operators to compute values at the row level or as an aggregate.

A calculation written with braces and a keyword, FIXED, INCLUDE, or EXCLUDE, that sets the level of detail for an aggregate independent of the fields in the view.

A calculation that runs on the values already returned in a view rather than on the data source, so it can compute percent of total, running sums, or differences between marks.

A workbook-level value that a user can change with a control, used to swap measures, set thresholds, or drive calculated fields and reference lines.

A custom group of dimension members defined by conditions or manual selection, which can be used to filter data, compare members in and out, or color marks.

A way to combine several dimension members into a single category, such as merging low-volume sub-categories into an Other bucket, without changing the underlying data.

Evenly sized numeric ranges created from a measure, which turn a continuous field into discrete buckets used to build histograms.

A filter marked as context that runs before other filters in the view, so subsequent filters and calculations such as top N use only the selected context rows.

A filter control shown beside a view or on a dashboard, giving viewers a way to include or exclude values without editing the underlying filter settings.

A line drawn across a view at a fixed value, a computed value such as an average, or a value from a parameter, used to give marks a visual benchmark.

A statistical model line added to a view to show the direction of a relationship between two numeric fields, with optional confidence bands and model descriptions.

A projection of future values added to a time-based line chart, generated by Tableau's built-in model with configurable forecast length and prediction intervals.

A single view in a workbook consisting of shelves, marks, and a visualization, where one or more data sources can be analyzed and formatted.

A layout that combines several worksheets and supporting objects such as text, images, and filter controls, sized for a target screen or fixed dimensions.

An ordered sequence of story points, each containing a worksheet or dashboard with a caption, used to present an analysis step by step to an audience.

A rule that responds to a user's interaction on a dashboard, such as clicking a mark, by filtering, highlighting, opening a URL, or navigating to another sheet.

The text that appears when a viewer hovers over a mark; it can include field values, inserted sheets, and custom formatting set on the Marks card.

A single .twbx file that bundles the workbook with its data extracts and local assets, so it can be shared and opened without access to the original sources.

A dashboard setting that lets an author design and preview separate arrangements for desktop, tablet, and phone screens, showing or hiding objects per device.