A Comprehensive Power BI Glossary for Beginners

Welcome to Power BI Glossary 2024, courtesy of Frontlines EduTech – the most all-inclusive guide to give you easy-to-understand knowledge on the most important key concepts, terminology, and functionalities of Microsoft Power BI. Mastering this powerful tool as a true enabler for business analytics has never been more important with increasing reliance on data-driven decision-making.

It unlocks potential areas as either the novice user is beginning to learn the fundamental aspects of Power BI or an advanced user who wishes to broaden their skills. Browse through the key terms such as data visualisation, dashboards, reports, and dive deeper into advanced functionalities such as DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) and Power Query.

A

Account: Use your work or school account to sign in to Power BI. Administrators manage work or school accounts in Microsoft Entra ID. See licence and Premium, below.

Admin portal: The location where Power BI admins manage users, features, and settings for Power BI in their organisation.

Aggregates: Summary calculations (such as sum, average, count) applied to datasets to condense information.

Aggregation: The reduction of rows in underlying data sources to fit in a model. The result is an aggregate.

Alert, alerts: A feature that notifies users of changes in the data based on limits they set.Users receive alerts on the service and on their mobile app.

Annotate: Write lines, text, or stamps on a snapshot copy of a tile, report, or visual on the Power BI mobile app for iOS and Android devices.

API (Application Programming Interface): A set of protocols and tools that allow different software applications to communicate with Power BI for data integration and automation.

App, apps: A bundle of dashboards, reports, and semantic models; also refers to mobile apps for consuming content, such as the Power BI app for iOS.

AppSource: A centralised online repository for browsing and discovering dashboards, reports, semantic models, and apps to download.

App Workspace: A collaborative environment within Power BI where teams can create, share, and manage dashboards, reports, and datasets.

ArcGIS for Power BI: A mapping and analytics platform by ESRI; the visual included in the Power BI visuals library is called ArcGIS for Power BI.

Artifacts: A component type of the Power BI workspace that includes dashboards, reports, semantic models, and data flows. Formerly known as artifacts.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) Insights: Built-in AI capabilities in Power BI that help users discover patterns, trends, and anomalies in their data without requiring advanced data science skills.

Auto Insights: Now referred to as Quick Insights.

Axis: A line on a chart representing the dimension along which data is plotted, such as X-axis or Y-axis in bar charts.

Azure Key Vault: A pay-as-you-go security solution in Azure to store, secure, and manage cryptographic keys and secrets for use by applications.

Azure Synapse Analytics: An integrated analytics service that accelerates time to insight across data warehouses and big data systems, often used in conjunction with Power BI for advanced analytics.

B

Benchmarking: Comparing business metrics and performance indicators against industry standards or competitors to identify areas of improvement.

Bookmarks: Snapshots of the current state of a report, including filters and visuals, used to save specific views.

Bidirectional Filtering: A type of relationship between tables where filters applied to one table affect the related table and vice versa.

Big Data: Extremely large data sets that can be analysed computationally to reveal patterns, trends, and associations, often integrated into Power BI for comprehensive analysis.

Binary File: A file format that contains data in binary form, which can be imported into Power BI for analysis.

Bins: Grouping of numeric or date data into “bins” or ranges for better data visualisation, such as age groups.

Blended Data: Data combined from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive view for analysis in Power BI.

Blending: Combining data from multiple sources into a single report or analysis.

Bookmark: A view of data captured in the Bookmarks pane of a report in Power BI Desktop or service. In Desktop, the bookmarks are saved in the .pbix report file for sharing on the Power BI service.

Bookmark Pane: The area in Power BI where bookmarks are managed, allowing users to navigate between different report views.

Breadcrumbs: Navigation aids in reports that show the path taken by users to reach a particular view, enhancing the user experience by making navigation intuitive.

Business Intelligence (BI): Technologies, applications, and practices for the collection, integration, analysis, and presentation of business information to support better decision-making.

C

Canvas: The area in Power BI where visualisations are placed and arranged on reports or dashboards.

Calculated Columns: New data columns created by applying a DAX formula to existing data in the data model.

Calculated Measure: Similar to a measure, it is a calculation created using DAX to perform dynamic aggregations based on user interactions.

Calendar Table: A date dimension table used in data modelling to perform time-based calculations and analyses, such as year-over-year comparisons.

Capacity: A capacity is a dedicated set of resources reserved for exclusive use. It offers dependable, consistent performance for your content.

Cards: A visualisation in Power BI used to display a single data point like total sales or averages.

Cardinality: Refers to the uniqueness of data values contained in a column. High cardinality means many unique values, while low cardinality means few unique values.

Card Visualization: A visual that displays a single numeric value, such as total sales or total profit.

Catalog: A centralised repository where all Power BI datasets, reports, and dashboards are stored and managed for easy access and governance.

Certified custom visual: A Power BI custom visual that has met requirements and passed strict security testing.

Chain Slicer: A slicer that dynamically updates other slicers based on selected values, allowing for more interactive and interconnected filtering options.

Charticulator: A visual authoring tool that allows users to create custom visualisations for Power BI without extensive coding knowledge.

Clustered Column Chart: A variation of the column chart where multiple data series are grouped side by side for easy comparison across categories.

Cross-filtering: A feature that automatically applies filters to related visualisations when one visualisation is selected.

Composite Model: A data model in Power BI that combines DirectQuery and Import modes, allowing for more flexible data connectivity.

Conditional Formatting: Formatting applied to visuals based on specific conditions or rules, enhancing data interpretation.

Connect live: A method of connecting to SQL Server Analysis Services data models. Also called a live connection.

Connector: Power BI Desktop includes an ever-growing collection of data connectors that are built to connect to a specific data source. Examples include: GitHub, MailChimp, Power BI dataflows, Google Analytics, Python, SQL Server, Zendesk, and more than 100 other data sources.

Connectivity Mode: The method by which Power BI connects to data sources, such as Import, DirectQuery, or Live Connection.

Content Pack: A pre-packaged collection of dashboards, reports, and datasets that can be shared within an organisation.

Container: The areas on the navigation pane are containers. In the nav pane you’ll find containers for: Favourites, Recent, Apps, Shared with me, and Home.

Content: Content for the Power BI service is generally dashboards, reports, and apps. It can also include workbooks and semantic models.

Content list: The content index for an app.

Content view: The view in Windows Explorer that displays the most relevant content for each item based on its file name extension or Kind association.

Continuous Data: Data that is collected over time without interruptions, often used in time series analysis.

Continuous variable: A continuous variable can be any value between its minimum and maximum limits, otherwise it’s a discrete variable. Examples are temperature, weight, age, and time. Continuous variables can include fractions or portions of the value. The total number of blue skateboards sold is a discrete variable since we can’t sell half a skateboard.

Correlation: A correlation tells us how the behaviours of things are related. If their patterns of increase and decrease are similar, then they’re positively correlated. And if their patterns are opposite, then they’re negatively correlated. For example, if sales of our red skateboard increase each time we run a TV marketing campaign, then sales of the red skateboard and the TV campaign are positively correlated.

Cross-filter: Applies to visual interactions. Cross-filtering removes data that doesn’t apply. For example, selecting Moderation in the doughnut chart cross-filters the line chart. The line chart now only displays data points that apply to the Moderation segment.

Cross-highlight: Applies to visual interactions. Cross-highlighting retains all the original data points but dims the portion that doesn’t apply to your selection. For example, selecting Moderation in the doughnut chart cross-highlights the column chart. The column chart dims all the data that doesn’t apply to the Moderation segment and highlights all the data that does apply to the Moderation segment.

Custom Visuals: Additional visualisations created by the community or third parties that can be imported into Power BI to enhance reporting capabilities.

Customer Segmentation: The process of dividing customers into groups based on characteristics or behaviours for targeted analysis and marketing.

D

Dashboards: A collection of visualisations and reports organised on a single page to give a quick overview of key metrics.

Dashboard Tiles: Individual visual elements or widgets on a Power BI dashboard that display specific metrics or data points.

Dashboard Sharing: The process of distributing Power BI dashboards to other users or groups within an organisation.

DAX (Data Analysis Expressions): A formula language used in Power BI to create custom calculations and aggregations.

Data Annotations: Notes or comments added to data points within a visualisation to provide additional context or explanations.

Data Categorization: Assigning specific categories to data fields in Power BI to enhance data modelling and visualisation, such as setting a field as “City” or “URL.”

Data Catalog: A repository that helps organise, discover, and manage data assets within Power BI and an organisation.

Data connector: See connectors

Data Encryption: The process of securing data by converting it into a code to prevent unauthorised access, ensuring data privacy and compliance within Power BI.

Dataflow: A way to prepare, transform, and load data in Power BI using reusable data preparation steps.

Data Governance: Policies and procedures that manage data availability, usability, integrity, and security in Power BI to ensure data quality and compliance.

Data Lineage: Tracking the origin and transformation of data as it moves through various stages in Power BI, providing transparency and traceability.

Data Marts: Subsets of data warehouses tailored for specific business lines or departments, often used in Power BI for targeted analysis.

Data model, Excel Data Model: In Power BI content, a data model refers to a map of data structures in a table format. The data model shows the relationships that are being used to build databases. Report designers, administrators, and developers create and work with data models to create Power BI content.

Data Modeling Best Practices: Guidelines for designing efficient and effective data models in Power BI, including normalisation, relationship management, and performance optimization.

Data Profiling: Analysing data sources to understand their structure, quality, and content before importing them into Power BI.

Data Refresh: The process of updating the data in Power BI reports and dashboards to reflect the latest information from data sources.

Data Source Credentials: Authentication details required for Power BI to access and refresh data from various sources securely.

Data Source Settings: Configuration options in Power BI that manage how data sources are connected and refreshed.

Data Type: The kind of data stored in a column, such as text, number, date, or Boolean, which affects how data is processed and visualised.

Dashboard Tiles: Individual visual elements pinned to a Power BI dashboard, representing key metrics or data points.

Dashboard Layout: The arrangement and organisation of visuals and tiles on a Power BI dashboard to optimise readability and insight delivery.

Date Hierarchy: A predefined structure in Power BI that breaks down date fields into levels like Year, Quarter, Month, and Day for easier analysis.

DAX expression(Data Analysis Expressions): A Microsoft formula language used to build formulas and expressions in Power BI Desktop, Azure Analysis Services, SQL Server Analysis Services, and Power Pivot in Excel.

Decomposition Tree: An AI-powered visual in Power BI that allows users to break down a measure by multiple dimensions interactively.

Default Summarization: The automatic aggregation method (e.g., sum, average) applied to a numeric field when used in visuals unless otherwise specified.

Delimited Text File: A plain text file where data fields are separated by specific characters (like commas or tabs), commonly imported into Power BI for analysis.

Desktop or Power BI Desktop: Free Power BI tool used primarily by report designers, admins, and developers.

DirectQuery Mode: A connection method where Power BI queries the data source in real-time instead of importing data, allowing for up-to-date analysis on large datasets.

Diamond: Power BI Premium. The shape of the icon that signifies a workspace is a Premium capacity workspace.

Dimension: Dimensions are categorical (text) data. A dimension describes a person, object, item, products, place, and time. In a semantic model, dimensions are a way to group measures into useful categories. For our skateboard company, some dimensions might include looking at sales (a measure) by model, colour, country/region, or marketing campaign.

Dimension Tables: Tables in a data model that contain descriptive attributes related to fact tables, used to categorise and filter data in Power BI reports.

Disaster Recovery: Strategies and processes to recover Power BI services and data in the event of a system failure or data loss.

Distribution Groups: Groups of users in an organisation who receive shared Power BI reports and dashboards.

Drill Through: A feature that allows users to navigate from a summary view to a detailed report page by clicking on a specific data point.

Drill Down: Navigating deeper into hierarchical data within a visual to see more detailed information.

Drill up: Ability to explore the next level of detail in a report or visual.

Dynamic Titles: Report titles in Power BI that change based on user interactions or selected filters, providing contextual relevance.

Drillthrough Filters: Filters that allow users to navigate from a summary view to a detailed view of data related to a specific item or category.

Dynamically Sized Bins: Bins whose size adjusts based on the range of data, providing more flexible and meaningful categorization in visualisations.

E

Editing View: The mode in which report designers can explore, design, build, and share a report.

Effective identity: The identity used by the generated token API to generate a token for an individual user, depending on that user’s credentials in the app. It could be a master user or service principal.

Ellipsis: Three dots – … Selecting an ellipsis displays more menu options. Also referred to as the More actions menu.

Excel Integration: The ability to import, export, and interact with Excel workbooks within Power BI, facilitating seamless data exchange between the two platforms.

Embedded Analytics: Incorporating Power BI reports and dashboards into other applications or websites to provide interactive data insights within those environments.

Embed code: A common standard across the internet. In Power BI, the customer can generate an embed code and copy it to place content such as a report visual on a website or blog.

Embed token: A string of encrypted characters that is used for authentication, which specifies the content the web app user can access and the user’s access level.

Embedding: Integrating Power BI reports or dashboards into other applications or websites for easier access and use.

Endorsement: Marking datasets, reports, or dashboards in Power BI as “Promoted” or “Certified” to signify their quality and reliability for users.

Environment: [Power BI Desktop, Power BI Mobile, the Power BI service, etc.] Another way to refer to one of the Power BI tools. It’s okay to use Power BI environment (tenant) in documentation where it may help business analysts who are familiar with the term tenant to know it’s the same thing.

Entity Relationship Diagram (ERD): A visual representation of the relationships between tables in a Power BI data model, aiding in database design and understanding.

Error Bars: Visual indicators on charts that represent the variability or uncertainty in data, providing a sense of precision in Power BI visualisations.

ETL (Extract, Transform, Load): The process of extracting data from source systems, transforming it into a usable format, and loading it into Power BI.

Explicit measures: Power BI uses explicit measures and implicit measures (see definition below). Explicit measures are created by report designers and saved with the semantic model. They’re displayed in Power BI as fields and can therefore be used repeatedly. For example, a report designer creates an explicit measure Total Invoice that sums all invoice amounts. Colleagues who use that semantic model and who have edit access to the report can select and use that field to create a visual. When an explicit measure is added or dragged onto a report canvas, Power BI doesn’t apply an aggregation. Creating explicit measures requires edit access to the semantic model.

Export to PDF: A feature that allows users to export Power BI reports and dashboards as PDF documents for offline viewing and sharing.

F

Filters: Tools used in reports to display a specific subset of data, based on conditions like dates, categories, or ranges.

Fact Table: A central table in a data model that contains quantitative data for analysis, such as sales figures.

Factless Fact Table: A fact table that does not contain any numeric measures but captures many-to-many relationships between dimension tables.

Fast Insights: Automated insights generated by Power BI’s AI capabilities to highlight significant trends and patterns in the data.

Favourite, unfavorite: Verb meaning to add to the Favourites list for quick access to frequently visited dashboards and reports in Power BI. When you no longer want them as a favourite, you unfavorite them.

Federated Query: A query that retrieves data from multiple sources in real-time without importing the data into Power BI.

Federation: Integrating multiple data sources into a single Power BI model to provide a unified view for analysis.

Field Parameters: Dynamic parameters in Power BI that allow users to switch between different fields in a visualisation without modifying the report structure.

Field Formatting: Customising the appearance of data fields in Power BI, such as changing number formats, fonts, colours, and alignment.

Federated Data: Data that remains in its original source but is accessible and queryable through Power BI, allowing for real-time analysis without data duplication.

Field Parameters: Dynamic fields in Power BI that allow users to switch between different measures or dimensions within a single visual.

Filter versus highlight: A filter removes data that doesn’t apply. A highlight greys out the data that doesn’t apply.

Filter Context: The set of filters applied to data in Power BI that determines which data is visible in a particular visualisation or calculation.

Filter Pane: The section in Power BI where all available filters for a report are displayed, enabling users to apply and manage filters on visuals.

First Class Visuals: Visualisations that are natively supported and optimised within Power BI, offering better performance and integration compared to custom visuals.

Fixed Size Slicer: A slicer in Power BI with a predetermined size, ensuring consistent layout and design across different report pages.

Flash Fill: A data transformation feature in Power Query that automatically fills in data based on patterns identified in adjacent columns.

Floating Filter: A filter that is not fixed in place and can be moved or resized within the report canvas.

Focus mode: Use focus mode to pop out a visual or tile to see more detail. You can still interact with the visual or tile while in focus mode.

Folder-Based Data Source: A data source that organises data into folders, such as files within a directory, which can be imported and analysed in Power BI.

Free account: See account

Funnel Chart: A visual that represents stages in a process, showing the progressive reduction of data through each stage.

Functional Area: Specific departments or segments within an organisation (e.g., Sales, Marketing) for which Power BI reports can be tailored.

Forecasting: Using historical data to predict future trends and outcomes within Power BI visuals.

Folder Icon: Represents a folder in Power BI where related reports, dashboards, or datasets are organised.

Format Painter: A tool in Power BI that allows users to copy formatting from one visual and apply it to another.

Frequency Distribution: A statistical representation showing how often each value occurs within a dataset, often visualised using histograms.

Formula Bar: The area in Power BI Desktop where DAX formulas are written and edited for calculated columns and measures.

Freeform Visual: A type of visual in Power BI that allows users to place and arrange multiple visuals freely on the report canvas without a predefined structure.

Frequency Analysis: The process of analysing how frequently certain values or categories appear within a dataset.

Full screen, full-screen mode: Use full screen mode to view Power BI content without the distraction of menus and navigation panes. Full screen mode is sometimes referred to as TV mode.

G

Gateway: A service that allows Power BI to connect to on-premises data sources to refresh reports automatically.

Gateway Configuration: Setting up and managing the Power BI Gateway to ensure secure and reliable data refreshes from on-premises sources.

Generic Data Connector: A connector in Power BI that allows for integration with various data sources through APIs or custom connectors.

Geo-Analytics: The analysis of geographic data in Power BI, enabling the creation of maps and spatial visualisations to uncover location.

Get Data: The feature in Power BI that allows users to connect to various data sources to import or query data.

Geo-Spatial Analysis: Analysing data based on geographic locations, often visualised using maps in Power BI.

Git Integration: Using Git version control with Power BI projects to manage changes and collaborate with team members.

Global Filters: Filters that apply to all visuals within a report, providing a consistent view across different charts and tables.

Granularity: The level of detail represented in a dataset, affecting how data can be analysed and visualised.

Graph Analytics: Analysing relationships and connections within data using graph-based methods, supported by Power BI integrations.

Gradient Chart: A chart that uses colour gradients to represent data values, enhancing visual appeal and data differentiation.

Gradient Fill: A formatting option in Power BI visuals that applies a colour gradient to data points for enhanced visual appeal.

Gridlines: Lines in Power BI visuals that help users interpret the scale and values of data points.

Grouping: The act of combining individual values in visualisations into broader categories, such as grouping cities by regions.

Grouping and Binning: Techniques used to categorise data into groups or bins for simplified analysis and visualisation.

Group By: A DAX function used to summarise data by one or more columns, often used in measures and calculated tables.

H

Hanging Filters: Filters that remain applied even when navigating between different report pages, maintaining consistent data views.

Heat Map: A visual that uses colour intensity to represent data values, often used to show correlations or density.

Hierarchies: Organisational structures in data models that define relationships between fields, such as Year > Quarter > Month.

Hierarchical Axis: An axis in a visual that supports multiple levels of data hierarchy, such as Year > Quarter > Month.

Hierarchical Slicer: A slicer that allows users to filter data based on multiple levels of a hierarchy, such as Geography > Country > City.

High-density visuals: Visuals with more data points than Power BI can render. Power BI samples the data to show the shape and outliers.

Highlighting: Emphasising specific data points or categories in a visual to draw attention to important information.

Historical Data: Data that represents past events or transactions, often used for trend analysis and forecasting in Power BI.

Histogram: A visual representation of data distribution, showing the frequency of data points within specified ranges (bins).

Home: The default landing page for Power BI service users. Doesn’t modify anything. Can be called Power BI Home or simply Home.

Hosting Environment: The infrastructure where Power BI services and reports are hosted, ensuring accessibility and performance.

Hotspot: Areas within a visual that respond to user interactions, such as clicking or hovering, to provide more information or trigger actions.

Hover Actions: Interactive features that trigger actions or display additional information when a user hovers over a visual element.

Hybrid Model: A data model in Power BI that combines both Import and DirectQuery storage modes for different tables within the same model.

Hybrid Tables: Tables in Power BI that use both Import and DirectQuery modes for different parts of the data.

Hyperlink: A link embedded in a Power BI report that directs users to external websites, documents, or other report pages.

Hyperparameter Tuning: Adjusting parameters in machine learning models integrated with Power BI to improve predictive accuracy.

Horizontal Bar Chart: A bar chart where bars extend horizontally, useful for comparing categories with long labels.

I

Import Mode: A mode where data is loaded into Power BI’s internal data model for faster querying.

Incremental Loading: A data loading strategy that only updateIs new or changed data, reducing the time and resources required for data refreshes.

Incremental Refresh: A method to refresh only the latest data rather than the entire dataset to improve performance.

Indexing: Creating indexes on data columns to improve query performance and speed up data retrieval in Power BI.

Infographics: Visual representations of data that combine graphics, charts, and text to communicate information clearly and effectively.

In-Memory Storage: Storing data in RAM for faster access and processing in Power BI, enhancing the performance of data analysis.

Inline frame, IFrame: An IFrame is a component of an HTML element that allows you to embed reports and other items inside your app. It’s essentially a way to display a secondary webpage inside the main page.

Implicit measures: Power BI uses implicit measures and explicit measures (see definition above). Implicit measures are created dynamically. For example, when you drag a field onto the report canvas to create a visual, Power BI automatically aggregates the value using one of the built-in standard aggregations (SUM, COUNT, MIN, AVG, etc.). Creating implicit measures requires edit access to the report.

Independent Software Vendor, ISV: A third-party software developer. An ISV can be an individual or an organisation that independently creates computer software.

Input Parameters: Variables that users can modify to influence calculations and visualisations within Power BI reports.

Insights: Automated analytics in Power BI that scan datasets to identify and visualise interesting patterns and trends without user input.

Integration Runtime: The compute infrastructure used by Power BI for data integration tasks, such as data flows and ETL processes.

Intelligent Narratives: Automated textual explanations generated by Power BI to summarise key insights and trends in the data.

Interactive Reports: Reports in Power BI that allow users to engage with data through filters, slicers, and drill-downs for customised views.

Internal Data Sources: Data sources that reside within an organisation’s internal network, often connected to Power BI via gateways.

Item: A component type of the Power BI workspace that includes dashboards, reports, semantic models, and data flows. Formerly known as artifacts.

Item-Level Security: Security measures that restrict access to specific data items within a dataset based on user roles or permissions.

J

JavaScript API: An API that allows developers to embed and interact with Power BI reports and dashboards within web applications using JavaScript.

Jitter Plot: A variation of a scatter plot that adds random noise to data points to prevent overlapping and improve visibility.

Join Operator: In Power BI’s Query Editor, an operation that combines data from two tables based on a related column.

Join Operations: Methods of combining data from two or more tables based on related columns, such as Inner Join, Left Join, Right Join

Join Types: In data modelling, refers to ways to combine tables based on relationships, including inner, outer, and left joins.

Journey Mapping: Visualising customer or user journeys within Power BI to analyse interactions and touchpoints across different stages.

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation): A lightweight data interchange format used in Power BI for configurations, custom visuals, and data transformations.

K

K-Means Clustering: A machine learning algorithm integrated with Power BI for grouping data into clusters based on similarity.

Kernel Density Estimation: A non-parametric way to estimate the probability density function of a random variable, useful for visualising data distributions in Power BI.

Kernel Mode: A mode of operation in Power BI gateways that allows for more efficient data processing and connectivity.

Key Field: A unique identifier in a table used to establish relationships with other tables in Power BI.

Key Fields: Columns in a table that uniquely identify each row, often used to establish relationships between tables.

Key Metrics: Critical data points that reflect the performance and health of a business, often highlighted in Power BI dashboards.

KPI Indicators: Visual elements within KPI visuals that represent different aspects of performance, such as trend arrows or status icons.

KPI Visual: A specific type of visual in Power BI designed to display Key Performance Indicators with indicators like trends and targets.

Kusto Query Language (KQL): A query language used in Power BI for querying large datasets, especially in Azure environments.

Knowledge Base Integration: Connecting Power BI with knowledge bases to enrich data analysis with contextual information and documentation.

Knowledge Management: The process of capturing, distributing, and effectively using knowledge within an organisation, supported by Power BI through data insights.

L

Label Formatting: Customising the appearance of labels in Power BI visuals, including font size, colour, and position.

Latency: The delay between data being updated in the source and appearing in Power BI reports, important for real-time analytics.

Lambda Architecture: A data processing architecture that combines batch and real-time processing, often implemented in Power BI for comprehensive data analysis.

Layering: Organising visuals and elements in Power BI reports in different layers to manage visibility and interactivity.

Leaf Nodes: The final nodes in a hierarchical data structure that do not have any child nodes, used in drill-down visuals.

Left navigation (left nav): The controls along the left edge of Power BI service.

Legend: A key in Power BI visuals that explains the meaning of colours, shapes, or sizes used in the visual.

Level of Detail (LOD): The granularity at which data is analysed and visualised in Power BI, affecting the depth and breadth of insights.

Library: A collection of custom visuals, themes, or templates available for use in Power BI reports.

Licence: Your level of access is determined by the Power BI licence associated with your account and the capacity type where content is stored. For example, in shared capacity, a user with a Power BI Pro licence can collaborate only with users who are also assigned a Pro licence. In shared capacity, a free licence enables access to only the user’s personal workspace. However, when content is in Premium capacity or Fabric F64 or greater capacity, users with a Pro licence can share that content with users who are assigned a free license.A licence is assigned to a user and can be a free or Pro licence. Depending on how the licence was acquired, it may be paid or unpaid. The accounts are either: per-user or organisational. Per-user accounts are available as free or Pro. A Power BI free user is either using stand-alone Power BI Desktop or is using Power BI service stand-alone or is using Power BI service within an organisation that has a Premium organisational subscription. The Power BI per-user Pro account is a paid monthly subscription that allows for collaboration and sharing of content with other Pro users.The organisational Premium (also known as Premium capacity) subscription adds a layer of features on top of per-user licences. For example, free per-user account holders within an organisation that has a Premium subscription are able to do much more with Power BI than free users without Premium. For example, free users in Premium organisational accounts can collaborate with colleagues and can view content that’s hosted on Power BI Premium capacity.

Linked Reports: Reports that share the same dataset but have different visualisations or filters, enabling multiple perspectives on the same data.

List page or content list: One of the section pages for the elements in the nav pane. For example, Favourites, Recents, My workspace, etc.

Live Connection: A connection mode in Power BI where the report directly queries a live data source, such as SQL Server Analysis Services, without importing data.

Local File Storage: Storing Power BI report files (.pbix) on a local machine instead of in the Power BI service.

Logical Table: A table in Power BI’s data model that is created through relationships and calculations, not directly imported from a data source.

Lookup Function: A DAX function used to retrieve related data from another table based on a relationship or key.

Lookup Table: A table in Power BI used to provide reference values for the fact table, such as product details or region names.

Line and Clustered Column Chart: A combination visual that includes both line and clustered column charts, allowing for the comparison of different data series.

Line Breaks: Formatting elements in Power BI visuals that allow text to wrap or break into multiple lines for better readability.

Line Chart: A visual representation of data showing trends over time by connecting individual data points with a line.

Localization: Adapting Power BI reports and dashboards to different languages and regional settings to cater to a global audience.

Log Analytics: Analysing log data to monitor performance, diagnose issues, and gain insights, often integrated with Power BI for visualisation.

M

Matrix: A table-like visualisation that can display data in a grid format with rows and columns for multidimensional analysis.

Matrix Visualization: A table-like visual in Power BI that can display data in rows and columns with the ability to expand and collapse hierarchies.

Machine Learning Integration: Embedding machine learning models and predictions within Power BI reports to enhance data analysis and forecasting.

Master Data Management (MDM): Processes and tools used to ensure the consistency and accuracy of key data entities across Power BI and other systems.

Map Visuals: A category of visuals in Power BI that display data geographically, including basic maps, filled maps, and ArcGIS maps.

Mapping Layer: The component in Power BI where data fields are assigned to visual properties, such as axes, colours, and sizes.

Measure: A calculation created using DAX that is used to analyse data and generate results like totals or averages.

Measure Table: A table in Power BI that contains only measures, used to organise calculations separately from raw data.

Measures Grouping: Organising related measures into groups within Power BI for better manageability and clarity in reports.

Merge Queries: Combining two or more queries in Power Query to create a single dataset for analysis in Power BI.

Metadata: Data that describes other data, providing information about the structure, relationships, and meaning of data within Power BI.

Modelling: [Power BI Desktop] Getting the data you’ve connected to ready for use in Power BI. Modelling includes creating relationships between tables in multiple data sources, creating measures, and assigning metrics.

Mobile Optimization: Designing Power BI reports and dashboards to be easily viewed and interacted with on mobile devices.

Modelling: The process of structuring data relationships in Power BI for efficient querying and reporting.

Model View: The view in Power BI Desktop where users can manage relationships, hierarchies, and the overall data model.

Model Relationships: The connections between different tables in a Power BI data model that define how data can be combined and analysed.

Monochromatic Scheme: A colour scheme using variations of a single colour to create a cohesive and visually appealing Power BI report.

Multiple Data Sources: Connecting Power BI to various data origins, such as databases, cloud services, and flat files, to create comprehensive reports.

Multidimensional Scaling (MDS): A statistical technique integrated with Power BI for visualising the level of similarity of individual cases in a dataset.

Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA): Security feature in Power BI that requires multiple forms of verification to access reports and dashboards.

Matrix Visual: A versatile table-like visual in Power BI that allows for the display of data in rows and columns with the ability to drill down into details.

My workspace: The workspace for each Power BI customer to use to create content. If a customer wants to bundle anything created here into an app, and they have designer permissions, they upload it to the appropriate workspace or create a new one.

N

Natural Language Processing (NLP): Techniques integrated with Power BI’s Q&A feature that allow users to query data using everyday language.

Namespace: A container in Power BI that holds objects such as datasets, reports, and dashboards, helping to organise and manage resources.

Native: Included with the product. For example, Power BI comes with a set of native visualisation types. But you can also import other types, such as Power BI visuals.

Navigation Pane: The sidebar in Power BI Desktop and Service that allows users to navigate between different views and report pages.

Network Diagram: A visual representation of relationships and interactions between different entities, supported by Power BI visuals.

Nested Functions: DAX functions within other functions to perform complex calculations and data transformations in Power BI.

Normalisation: The process of organising data to minimise redundancy and improve data integrity within Power BI data models.

NoSQL Integration: Connecting Power BI with NoSQL databases to analyse unstructured or semi-structured data.

Notifications: Alerts and messages in Power BI that inform users about data changes, refresh statuses, or report updates.

Notification Centre: The location in the service where messages are delivered to users, such as notice of sunsetting certain features.

Node-Link Diagram: A type of graph visualisation in Power BI that shows relationships between entities using nodes and connecting lines.

Numerical Precision: The accuracy of numerical data in Power BI, affecting calculations and visualisations.

O

Object-Level Security: Security settings in Power BI that restrictO access to specific objects, such as tables or columns, based on user roles.

OneDrive for work or school vs OneDrive: OneDrive is a personal account and OneDrive for work or school is for work accounts.

OLAP (Online Analytical Processing): A category of data processing that allows for complex queries and analysis, supported by Power BI’s data modelling capabilities.

OLE DB (Object Linking and Embedding, Database): A set of COM-based interfaces that allow applications to access data from various sources, used by Power BI for data connectivity.

On-premises: The term used to distinguish local computing (in which computing resources are located on a customer’s own facilities) from cloud computing.

On-Premises Data: Data stored within an organisation’s own infrastructure, as opposed to cloud-based data, which can be accessed in Power BI via gateways.

On-Premises Data Gateway: A gateway that connects Power BI to on-premises data sources, enabling secure data refresh and access.

Operational Metrics: Key data points that reflect the day-to-day operations of a business, visualised in Power BI for monitoring and analysis.

Operational Reporting: Reports in Power BI focused on day-to-day operations and activities within an organisation, providing real-time insights.

Optimised Data Model: A Power BI data model designed for performance and scalability, incorporating best practices in data modelling and DAX.

Optimised Storage Mode: A storage mode in Power BI designed to enhance performance by optimising how data is stored and accessed.

Outlier Detection: Identifying data points that deviate significantly from the rest of the dataset, often visualised using Power BI’s analytics features.

Output Parameters: Variables in Power BI that capture the results of calculations or data transformations for use in visuals and reports.

Overlay: Placing one visual on top of another in Power BI to create layered or composite visuals for enhanced storytelling.

Orphaned Tables: Tables in a Power BI data model that have no relationships with other tables, often identified during data modelling.

Open Data Initiative: An initiative to make data more accessible and interoperable across different platforms, supported by Power BI’s diverse connectivity options.

Optical Character Recognition (OCR): Technology used to convert different types of documents into editable and searchable data for use in Power BI.

Offline Data: Data that is not currently connected to Power BI but can be imported or refreshed when connectivity is restored.

Out-of-the-Box Visuals: The standard set of visualisations provided by Power BI without requiring custom imports or development.

One-to-Many Relationship: A type of relationship between two tables where one record in the first table can relate to many records in the second table.

P

PaaS: PaaS stands for platform as a service. For example, Power BI Embedded.

Page: Reports have one or more pages. Each tab on the report canvas represents a page.

Page Navigation: The ability to move between different pages within a Power BI report, often enhanced with buttons and bookmarks.

Paginated Reports: Highly formatted reports in Power BI that are optimised for printing or PDF exports.

Parameters: User-defined variables in Power BI that allow for dynamic data filtering and customization within reports and data models.

Parameterization: Using parameters in Power BI to create dynamic and reusable queries, allowing for flexible data retrieval based on user input.

Partitioning: Dividing a large dataset into smaller, more manageable segments in Power BI to improve performance and manageability.

Path Analysis: Analysing the sequence of events or actions in data to understand patterns and relationships, often visualised using Sankey diagrams or flowcharts in Power BI.

Path Functions: DAX functions used to navigate and analyse hierarchical data paths within Power BI data models.

PBIVIZ: The file extension for a Power BI custom visual.

PBIX: The file extension for a Power BI Desktop file.

Permissions: What a user can and can’t do in Power BI is based on permissions. As a consumer you won’t have the same permissions as a designer, administrator, or developer.

Performance Analyzer: A tool in Power BI Desktop that helps identify and diagnose performance issues in reports by analysing query execution times.

Phone report: The name for a Power BI report that’s been formatted for viewing on the phone.

Phone view: The user interface in the Power BI service for laying out a phone report.

Pin, unpin: The action a report designer takes of placing a visual, usually from a report, onto a dashboard.

Power BI Desktop: The desktop application for creating Power BI reports, including data modelling, visualisation, and DAX calculations.

Power BI Embedded: A service that allows developers to integrate Power BI reports and dashboards into their own applications.

Power BI Gateway: A bridge that connects on-premises data sources to Power BI, enabling data refreshes and live queries from the cloud service.

Power BI Mobile App: The application that allows users to view and interact with Power BI reports and dashboards on mobile devices.

Power BI Mobile: The mobile application version of Power BI that allows users to access and interact with reports and dashboards on smartphones and tablets.

Power BI Premium: An add-on to the Power BI Pro licence that enables organisations to predictably scale BI solutions through the purchasing of reserved hardware in the Microsoft cloud. See account.

Power BI Pro: A monthly per-user licence that provides the ability to build reports and dashboards, collaborate on shared data, keep data up to date automatically, audit and govern how data is accessed and used, and the ability to package content to distribute (Power BI apps). See account.

Power BI Report Builder: A free, standalone Windows Desktop application used for authoring paginated reports. Used by report designers. For more information, see Power BI Report Builder. Power BI Report Builder can be downloaded from the Power BI site.

Power BI Report Server: An on-premises server that hosts Power BI reports, providing similar functionality to the Power BI Service but within an organisation’s own infrastructure.

Power BI Service: The cloud-based platform where Power BI reports, dashboards, and datasets are published, shared, and accessed.

Power BI tenant: A Power BI account for an organisation which has its data stored separately from other organisations but which is accessed through a shared service.

Power Query: A data connection technology in Power BI used to connect, clean, and reshape data before loading it into the model.

Power Query Editor: The interface in Power BI used for data transformation, including cleaning, shaping, and combining data from various sources.

Power BI tenant: A Power BI account for an organisation which has its data stored separately from other organisations but which is accessed through a shared service.

PowerShell Integration: Using PowerShell scripts to automate and manage Power BI tasks, such as deploying reports or managing datasets.

Premium workspace: A workspace running in a capacity, signified to customers by a diamond icon.

Pro licence or Pro account: See account.

Pivot Table: A data summarization tool in Power BI that allows users to reorganise and aggregate data by different dimensions and measures.

Pipeline: The series of steps involved in data processing and transformation within Power BI, from data extraction to visualisation.

Promoted Headers: The process in Power Query of setting the first row of data as column headers in Power BI.

Progressive Disclosure: A design principle in Power BI where additional details are revealed as users interact with visuals, keeping reports clean and focused.

Publish Settings: Configuration options in Power BI for controlling how reports and dashboards are published, including permissions and access levels.

Publish to Web: A feature in Power BI that allows users to share reports publicly by embedding them in websites or blogs, with consideration for data privacy.Python Integration: Using Python scripts within Power BI for advanced data analysis and custom visualisations.

Q

Q&A: The ability to type natural language questions about a semantic model and get responses in the form of visualisations. Appears in the Power BI service and Desktop.

Q&A Visual: A natural language querying tool in Power BI where users can type questions and get answers in visual formats.

Qualitative Data: Non-numeric data that describes qualities or characteristics, often visualised using charts like pie charts or word clouds in Power BI.

Quantitative Data: Numeric data that can be measured and analysed statistically, commonly used in Power BI visuals like bar charts and line graphs.

QR codes: [Power BI Mobile] A matrix barcode that can be generated for dashboards or tiles in the Power BI service to identify products. QR codes can be scanned with a QR code reader, or with the Power BI Mobile app on iOS or Android, to link directly to the dashboard or tile.

Query string parameter: Add to a URL to pre-filter the results seen in a Power BI report. In the broadest sense, a query string recovers information from a database.

Query Dependencies: The relationships and order in which queries are executed and transformed in Power BI, important for understanding data flow and optimising performance.

Query Diagnostics: Tools in Power BI that help analyse and troubleshoot query performance issues by providing detailed metrics and insights.

Query Editor: The interface in Power BI where users can clean, transform, and shape data before loading it into the data model.

Query Folding: The process by which Power Query transformations are translated into native queries for the data source, optimising data retrieval and performance.

Query Parameters: Variables used in Power BI queries to make data retrieval dynamic and customizable based on user inputs or conditions.

Quick Insights: Automated analytics in Power BI that scan datasets to identify and visualise interesting patterns and trends without user input.

Quick Measures: Predefined DAX calculations in Power BI that allow users to create common measures without writing complex formulas manually.

Quick Table: A temporary or ad-hoc table created within Power BI for exploratory analysis or specific calculations.

Quadrant Chart: A type of scatter chart divided into four quadrants to categorise data points based on two metrics.

Quality Assurance (QA): The process of validating and testing Power BI reports and dashboards to ensure accuracy, reliability, and performance before deployment.

R

R, Microsoft R: A programming language and software environment for statistical computing and graphics.

R Integration: Using the R programming language within Power BI for advanced data manipulation, statistical analysis, and custom visuals.

R Script: Code written in the R programming language that can be used in Power BI to perform advanced analytics.

R Script Transformation: Using R scripts in Power Query to perform complex data transformations that are not possible with standard Power Query functions.

R Script Visual: A visual in Power BI that allows users to run R scripts for advanced data analysis and custom visualisations.

RLS Roles: Specific roles defined in Power BI for implementing Row-Level Security, determining which data subsets users can access.

Reading View: Read-only view for reports (as opposed to Editing View).

Real-time streaming: The ability to stream data and update dashboards in real time from sources such as sensors, social media, usage metrics, and anything else from which time-sensitive data can be collected or transmitted.

Recent: The container in the nav pane that holds all the individual items (reports, dashboards, etc.) that were accessed last.

Refresh Failure Notifications: Alerts sent to users when a scheduled data refresh in Power BI fails, enabling prompt troubleshooting.

Refresh Schedule: The timetable set for Power BI to automatically update data from connected sources, ensuring reports and dashboards display the latest information.

Report: A multi-perspective view into a single semantic model, with visualisations that represent different findings and insights from that semantic model. It can have a single visualisation or many, a single page or many pages.

Report Bookmarks: Saved states of a Power BI report page, including filter selections and visual configurations, allowing users to navigate to specific views.

Report Builder: A tool used to create paginated reports for Power BI, designed for detailed and highly formatted reporting needs.

Report Dependencies: Understanding how different reports and datasets in Power BI are interconnected and rely on each other for data and insights.

Report editor: The report editor is where new reports are created and changes are made to existing reports by report designers.

Report Filters: Filters applied at the report level in Power BI, affecting all visuals and pages within the report.

Report Footers: The bottom section of a Power BI report page, often used to display additional information such as data sources or disclaimers.

Report Header: The top section of a Power BI report page, typically used for titles, logos, and navigation elements.

Report Icons: Visual symbols used in Power BI reports to represent actions, categories, or to enhance visual storytelling.

Report Impact Analysis: Evaluating how changes to data sources or models in Power BI affect existing reports and visuals.

Report Improvement Cycle: The ongoing process of enhancing Power BI reports through updates, optimizations, and incorporating user feedback.

Report Information Panels: Sections within a Power BI report that provide additional context or details about the data and visuals, often using tooltips or side panels.

Report Initialization: Setting up initial configurations and data connections when creating a new Power BI report.

Report Integration: Combining Power BI reports with other applications and services for enhanced functionality and data sharing.

Report Integration Testing: Testing Power BI reports to ensure they work correctly with integrated systems and data sources before deployment.

Report Interactivity: The ability of Power BI reports to respond to user actions, such as clicking on visuals to filter or highlight related data.

Report Interactive Elements: Components within Power BI reports that users can interact with, such as buttons, slicers, and drill-through links.

Report Interleaving: Mixing different types of visuals and data within a single Power BI report to provide a comprehensive view of the data.

Report Interpretation: The process of understanding and deriving meaningful insights from the data and visuals presented in Power BI reports.

Report Iteration: The process of repeatedly refining and improving Power BI reports based on feedback and new data insights.

Report Imports: Bringing in existing Power BI report files (.pbix) into the Power BI service for sharing and collaboration.

Report Import Mode: The mode where a Power BI report is imported into the Power BI service from Power BI Desktop, including all visuals and data.

Report Layers: Different levels of visuals and data within a Power BI report, allowing for complex and multi-dimensional data representation.

Report Level Filters: Filters applied to an entire Power BI report, affecting all pages and visuals within the report.

Report measures: Also called custom calculations. Excel calls these calculated fields. See also measures.

Report Navigation: The ability to move between different sections or pages within a Power BI report, often enhanced with bookmarks and buttons.

Report Optimization: Techniques used to improve the performance and responsiveness of Power BI reports, including efficient data modelling and minimising complex calculations.

Report Parameters: Variables in Power BI reports that allow users to input values to dynamically change the report’s data and visuals.

Report Rendering Engine: The component in Power BI that processes and displays visuals based on data and formatting settings.

Report Subscription: A feature that allows users to receive regular email updates of Power BI reports based on a defined schedule.

Report Themes: Predefined or custom colour schemes and formatting options applied consistently across all visuals in a Power BI report.

Responsive visuals: Visuals that change dynamically to display the maximum amount of data and insights, no matter the screen size.

Related content: Shows the individual pieces of content that contribute to the current content. For example, for a dashboard, you can see the reports and semantic models providing the data and visualisations on the dashboard.

Relative Date Filtering: A filtering option in Power BI that allows users to display data based on relative time periods, such as the last 7 days or the next month.

Relative Paths: File paths in Power BI that are defined relative to a specific location, useful for data sources that may move or change directories.

Rendering Engine: The component in Power BI that processes and displays visuals based on data and formatting settings.

Resource Allocation: Managing and distributing computational resources in Power BI to ensure efficient data processing and report generation.

Responsive Design: Designing Power BI reports and dashboards to automatically adjust layout and visuals based on the device or screen size.

Reverse Engineering: Analysing existing Power BI reports and data models to understand their structure and logic for documentation or improvement purposes.

Rich Data Types: Complex data types in Power BI, such as JSON or XML, that allow for more detailed and structured data analysis.

Row-Level Calculations: Calculations performed on a row-by-row basis within a table in Power BI, often using DAX for custom metrics.

Row-Level Security (RLS): A security feature in Power BI that restricts data access for users based on filters applied at the row level.

Row-Level Security (RLS): A security feature in Power BI that restricts data access for users based on filters applied at the row level.

Row-level security, RLS: Power BI feature that enables database administrators to control access to rows in a database table based on the characteristics of the user executing a query (for example, group membership). Administrators can configure RLS for data models imported into Power BI with Power BI Desktop.

S

SaaS: Software as a service (or SaaS) is a way of delivering applications over the internet—as a web-based service. Also referred to as: web-based software, on-demand software, or hosted software.

Scalability: The ability of Power BI solutions to handle increasing amounts of data and users without compromising performance or usability.

Scatter Chart: A visualisation used to display the relationship between two quantitative variables by plotting data points.

Scatter Plot: A Power BI visual that displays the relationship between two quantitative variables, helping to identify correlations, trends, and outliers.

Scheduled Refresh: Setting up automatic data updates in Power BI to keep reports and dashboards up-to-date with the latest data from sources.

Screenshot: Simple screenshots of a report can be emailed using the send a screenshot feature.

Script Editor: A tool in Power BI that allows users to write and execute scripts, such as R or Python scripts, for advanced data manipulation and visualisation.

Security Filters: Filters applied in Power BI to restrict data visibility based on user roles or permissions, enhancing data security and privacy.

Security Groups: Collections of users in Power BI that share the same access permissions and security settings for reports and dashboards.

Security Roles: Definitions of permissions in Power BI that control what data different users can access in reports or dashboards.

Semantic model: A collection of data used to create visualisations and reports.

Sensitivity Labels: Tags applied to Power BI reports and data to classify and protect sensitive information, ensuring compliance with data governance policies.

Service: See Power BI service. A standalone resource available to customers by subscription or licence. A service is a product offering delivered exclusively via the cloud.

Service Principal: An identity used by applications or services to authenticate with Power BI APIs, enabling automated data management and report generation.

Settings: The location for Power BI users to manage their own general settings, such as whether to preview new features, set the default language, close their account, etc. Also, users manage individual settings for content assets, alerts, and subscriptions. Represented by a cog icon.

Share: Distributing Power BI reports and dashboards to other users or groups within an organisation, enabling collaboration and data-driven decision-making.

Shared with me: The container in the nav pane that holds all the individual items that were directly shared by another Power BI user.

Share Functionality: The capability in Power BI to distribute reports and dashboards to other users or groups within an organisation.

Shareable Link: A URL generated in Power BI that allows others to access a specific report or dashboard, facilitating easy sharing and collaboration.

SharePoint Integration: Connecting Power BI with SharePoint to embed reports and dashboards within SharePoint sites for broader accessibility.

SharePoint Lists: Data sources in Power BI that connect to lists stored in SharePoint, enabling the integration of SharePoint data into Power BI reports and dashboards.

Sheet Management: Organizing and managing multiple report pages or tabs within a Power BI report to maintain clarity and structure.

Sheet Tabs: The navigational tabs at the bottom of a Power BI report that allow users to switch between different report pages or sections.

Single Page Reports: Power BI reports designed to fit entirely on one page, providing a concise and focused view of key metrics.

Single Sign-On (SSO): A user authentication process that allows access to Power BI and other integrated applications with a single set of login credentials.

Single Source of Truth (SSOT): Ensuring that Power BI reports and dashboards are based on consistent and authoritative data sources, eliminating discrepancies and enhancing data reliability.

Single Table Model: A simplistic data model in Power BI where all data resides in a single table, suitable for straightforward analyses without complex relationships.

Slicer: A visual filter in Power BI that allows users to filter data based on specific criteria, such as dates, categories, or numerical ranges.

Slicer Pane: The area in Power BI reports where slicers are placed, allowing users to filter and interact with the data displayed in visuals.

Slicer Syncing: The ability to synchronise slicers across multiple report pages in Power BI, ensuring consistent filtering across views.

Small Multiples: A visualisation technique in Power BI where multiple similar charts are displayed side by side, allowing for easy comparison across different categories or time periods.

Snap to Grid: Aligning visuals and elements to an invisible grid in Power BI Desktop, ensuring a neat and organised report layout.

Snapshot: In Power BI, a snapshot is a static image vs. a live image of a tile, dashboard, or report.

Snapshot Report: A Power BI report that captures and displays data at a specific moment in time, useful for historical analysis and trend tracking.

SQL Queries: Structured Query Language commands used to retrieve, manipulate, and manage data from relational databases connected to Power BI.

SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS): A set of on-premises tools and services to create, deploy, and manage report servers and paginated reports.

SQL Server Integration: Connecting Power BI with SQL Server databases to leverage powerful data management and querying capabilities.

Sorting Order: The sequence in which data is arranged in Power BI visuals based on criteria such as alphabetical order.

Spatial Data: Data related to geographic locations used in Power BI for map visualisations.

Spatial Index: An index in Power BI that optimises the performance of geospatial queries.

Stacked Area Chart: A chart that displays the cumulative total of multiple data series over time.

Stacked Bar Chart: A type of bar chart where multiple data series are stacked horizontally.

Stacked Column Chart: Similar to the stacked bar chart but oriented vertically.

Star Rating Visual: A custom visual in Power BI that displays ratings using stars.

Star Schema: A database schema used in Power BI where a central fact table is connected to multiple dimension tables.

Status Indicators: Visual elements representing the status of key metrics using colours or icons.

Status Bar: The area at the bottom of the interface displaying information about current actions.

Static Data: Data that does not change frequently.

Step Functions: Functions defining the sequence of transformations applied as data loads into Power BI.

Story Points: Key insights or highlights guiding users through the narrative of a report.

Storytelling: The practice of using visuals and narratives to present insights compellingly.

Streaming data:See real-time streaming.

Structured Data: Organised data following a predefined format facilitating analysis.

Subscriptions, Subscribe:You can subscribe to report pages, apps, and dashboards and receive emails containing a snapshot. Requires a Power BI Pro licence.

Summarization:[Power BI Desktop] The operation being applied to the values in one column.

Summary Tables: Tables providing aggregated summaries for quick reference.

Support Services: Assistance provided for users including documentation and technical support.

Surrogate Key: An artificial key used in models to uniquely identify records.

T

Tabular Editor: An external tool used to manage and edit Power BI tabular models more efficiently, enhancing data modelling capabilities.

Tabular Models: Data models in Power BI that organise data into tables with rows and columns, supporting relational database structures.

Table Relationships: Connections established between tables in Power BI’s data model to enable data integration and comprehensive analysis.

Table Visual: A basic Power BI visualisation that displays data in rows and columns, similar to a spreadsheet, allowing for detailed data inspection.

Tags: Labels applied to Power BI resources like datasets, reports, and dashboards to organise and categorise them for easier management and discovery.

Tagging: Assigning labels or categories to data elements within Power BI to organise and facilitate easier data retrieval and analysis.

Template Apps: Pre-packaged Power BI applications that include dashboards, reports, and datasets, designed for specific industries or use cases, which can be customised and deployed within an organisation.

Tenant: A client organisation that is served from a web service (SaaS) which also serves other client organisations, and each organisation’s data is stored in a separate database.

Text Analytics: Analysing text data within Power BI to extract meaningful insights, sentiments, and trends.

Text Box: A report element in Power BI where users can add descriptive text, titles, or annotations to provide context and explanations for visuals.

Text Filters: Filters in Power BI that allow users to include or exclude data based on text values or patterns.

Third-Party Connectors: Additional connectors developed by third parties that extend Power BI’s ability to connect to various data sources.

Tiles: A tile is a snapshot of your data, pinned to the dashboard. A tile can be created from a report, semantic model, dashboard, the Q&A box, Excel, SQL Server Reporting Services (SSRS) reports, and more.

Time series: A time series is a way of displaying time as successive data points. Those data points could be increments such as seconds, hours, months, or years.

Time Intelligence: DAX functions in Power BI that simplify calculations involving dates and times, such as year-to-date or moving averages.

Time Slicer: A slicer in Power BI specifically designed for filtering data based on time periods, such as years, months, or quarters.

Timeline Slicer: A specialised slicer in Power BI designed for filtering data based on date ranges, offering an interactive and visually intuitive way to navigate time periods.

Tooltips: Small boxes that appear when hovering over a visual, displaying additional data or details about that specific point.

Tooltips Customization: Enhancing tooltips in Power BI visuals with additional information, images, or custom formatting.

Tooltip Pages: Dedicated report pages in Power BI designed to provide additional context and information when users hover over visuals, enhancing data exploration without cluttering the main report.

Top N Filtering: A filtering technique in Power BI that displays only the top or bottom N records based on a specific measure.

Top N Filter: A filter in Power BI that displays the top or bottom ‘N’ items based on a specific measure, useful for highlighting the most significant data points.

Total Row: A feature in Power BI tables and matrices that automatically calculates and displays aggregate values, such as sums or averages, for numeric columns.

Transactional Data: Detailed records of business transactions, such as sales or purchases, used in Power BI for granular analysis.

U

UI (User Interface): The graphical layout and interactive elements in Power BI that allow users to create, modify, and interact with reports and dashboards.

UI Customization: Modifying the appearance and layout of Power BI visuals and reports to align with organisational branding and user preferences.

Unpivot Columns: A Power Query transformation that converts columns into rows, facilitating the normalisation of data for better analysis.

Union: Combining rows from two or more tables in Power Query or DAX to create a single, consolidated table for analysis.

Unrelated Tables: Tables in Power BI that do not have established relationships, which may require bridge tables or additional modelling to integrate effectively.

Update Schedule: The timetable set for refreshing data in Power BI datasets to ensure that reports and dashboards reflect the most recent information.

Upload Limits: The maximum size and number of files that can be uploaded to Power BI Service, impacting how large datasets and reports can be managed.

URL Parameters: Variables appended to URLs in Power BI reports to dynamically filter or customise the data displayed when accessing the report via a link.

Unique Identifier: A column or set of columns in Power BI that uniquely identifies each row in a table, essential for establishing relationships between tables.

User Experience (UX): The overall experience and satisfaction of users when interacting with Power BI reports and dashboards, influenced by design, usability, and performance.

User Principal Name (UPN): A format used to specify an internet-style name, such as User.Name@example.microsoft.com. The format consists of a login name and domain separated by the @ symbol.

User Roles: Defined roles that determine what a user can view and interact with in Power BI reports and dashboards.

User Training: Educational programs and resources provided to Power BI users to enhance their skills and maximise the tool’s effectiveness within an organisation.

Usage Metrics: Reports that display how many users have accessed a report or dashboard and how they interacted with it.

UTF-8 Encoding: A character encoding standard used in Power BI for handling text data, ensuring compatibility and proper display of international characters.

V

Value, values: Numerical data to be visualised.

Value Axis: The axis in a Power BI chart that represents quantitative values, typically the Y-axis in a 2D chart.

Value Labels: Text annotations in Power BI visuals that display the numerical value of data points, enhancing data readability and interpretation.

Variables: Elements in DAX formulas that store values or calculations, allowing for more complex and reusable expressions within Power BI.

Variance Analysis: Comparing actual performance against targets or previous periods in Power BI to identify deviations and understand underlying factors.

Vector Maps: A type of map visual in Power BI that uses vector-based graphics for scalable and high-resolution geographic representations.

Visual, visualisation: A chart. Some visuals are: bar chart, treemap, doughnut chart, map.

Visual Analytics: The process of exploring and analysing data through interactive Power BI visuals, enabling users to uncover insights and trends.

Visual Formatting: Customising the appearance of Power BI visuals, including colours, fonts, borders, and data labels, to enhance aesthetics and clarity.

Visual Interactions: How different visuals in a Power BI report respond to user actions, such as filtering or highlighting, to provide a cohesive data exploration experience.

Visualisations pane: Name for the visualisation templates that ship in the shared report canvas for Power BI Desktop and the Power BI service. Contains small templates, also called icons, for each native visualisation type.

Visual Level Filters: Filters applied to individual visuals in Power BI, restricting the data displayed within that specific visual without affecting others.

Visual Types: The various kinds of charts and graphics available in Power BI, such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, maps, and more specialised visuals like waterfall or funnel charts.

Visual-Level Security: (Note: Power BI primarily handles data-level security, but visual-level security can be managed through careful design and role-based access controls.)

Visualisation Pane: The section in Power BI Desktop where users select and configure visuals for their reports, adjusting properties and settings.

Visualisations: Graphical representations of data in Power BI, such as bar charts, line charts, pie charts, and maps.

Volatility: The frequency at which data changes in Power BI datasets, impacting refresh strategies and report performance.

Voice Narratives: (Note: While Power BI focuses on visual and interactive data storytelling, voice narratives can be integrated through third-party tools or custom solutions for enhanced accessibility.)

Views: Different perspectives on the data in Power BI, including the Data View, Model View, and Report View.

W

Waterfall Chart: A Power BI visual that shows the cumulative effect of sequential positive and negative values, useful for understanding how an initial value is affected by intermediate changes.

Web API: Application Programming Interfaces provided by web services that Power BI can connect to for importing and interacting with external data.

Web Connector: A Power Query connector in Power BI that allows users to import data from web pages and online APIs.

Web Content: Embedding web content, such as web pages or online dashboards, within Power BI reports using the Web Content visual.

What-If Parameters: Tools that allow users to change variables in a report and see how the results change dynamically.

White Space: The empty areas in Power BI reports and dashboards that help in organising visuals and improving readability by preventing clutter.

Wildcard Characters: Special characters used in Power BI filters and queries to represent one or more characters, enabling flexible data matching.

Window Functions: (Note: While Power BI’s DAX supports similar concepts, window functions are more commonly associated with SQL. In Power BI, similar calculations can be achieved using DAX functions like EARLIER, RANKX, etc.)

Workbook: An Excel workbook to be used as a data source. Workbooks can contain a data model with one or more tables of data loaded into it by using linked tables, Power Query, or Power Pivot.

Workflow Automation: Integrating Power BI with tools like Microsoft Power Automate to create automated workflows based on data changes or report interactions.

Workspace: A shared environment in Power BI where users can collaborate on reports, datasets, and dashboards.

Workspace Roles: Different access levels within a Power BI workspace, such as Admin, Member, Contributor, and Viewer, determining what actions users can perform.

Word Cloud: A Power BI visual that displays text data where the size of each word represents its frequency or importance, useful for qualitative data analysis.

Writeback: The ability to input or modify data directly from Power BI visuals back to the original data source, typically requiring integration with external systems or custom solutions.

X

X-Axis: The horizontal axis in Power BI charts, typically used to represent categorical or time-based data.

XAML Integration: (Note: XAML is primarily used for designing user interfaces in applications. In Power BI, integration might involve custom visuals or embedding reports within XAML-based applications.)

XML Data: Structured data formatted in XML that can be imported into Power BI using the XML data connector for analysis and visualisation.

XMLA Endpoint: An endpoint in Power BI Premium and Embedded capacities that allows advanced analytics and management operations through XML for Analysis (XMLA) protocol.

XLSX Integration: Importing Excel files (.xlsx) into Power BI for data analysis and visualisation, leveraging Power BI’s robust data transformation capabilities.

Y

Y-Axis: The vertical axis in Power BI charts, typically used to represent quantitative values or measurements.

Year-to-Date (YTD): A time intelligence calculation in Power BI that aggregates data from the beginning of the year to the current date, useful for performance tracking.

Yield Analysis: Analysing production or financial yields using Power BI visuals to assess efficiency and profitability.

YIELD Function: (Note: While YIELD is a specific function in Excel for calculating bond yields, in Power BI, similar financial calculations can be performed using DAX functions tailored to financial analysis.)

Z

Z-Order: The stacking order of visuals on a Power BI report canvas, determining which visuals appear in front or behind others.

Zero-Based Indexing: A numbering system where the first element in a collection is indexed at zero, relevant in Power BI when referencing rows or columns in certain functions.

Zero Suppression: Removing or hiding zero values in Power BI visuals to focus on significant data points and reduce visual clutter.

ZIP Code Mapping: Using ZIP codes in Power BI maps to analyse and visualise data geographically at the postal code level.

Zebra Stripes: Alternating row colours in Power BI tables and matrices to enhance readability and distinguish between rows easily.

ZenDesk Integration: Connecting Power BI with ZenDesk to import support ticket data for analysis and reporting on customer service performance.

Zoom Feature: Interactive capability in Power BI visuals that allows users to zoom in and out of data points or specific sections of a chart for detailed analysis.

Zone Mapping: Dividing geographic areas into zones within Power BI maps to analyse regional performance or distribution patterns.

Zonal Analysis: Analysing data based on defined geographic or organisational zones in Power BI, useful for regional performance assessments and strategic planning.

Zonal Reporting: Creating Power BI reports that provide insights based on specific zones or regions, enabling targeted analysis and decision-making.

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