POWER BI

50 Power BI Interview Questions and

Answers

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 Introduction to Power BI
Power BI is a powerful business analytics tool
developed by Microsoft. It helps users visualize and
share data insights easily.
Power BI is a self-service business intelligence
(SSBI) tool. SSBI lets non-technical business people
make reports and visualizations. They don’t need
coding backgrounds. This way, even non-technical
users can create dashboards to help their
businesses make informed decisions.
Power BI smoothly blends with other Microsoft
services. It also has robust data visualization. This is
why Power BI is gaining popularity. Learning Power
BI is essential for anyone in data analytics or
business intelligence.

Beginner Level Questions

1. What is Power BI?
Microsoft’s Power BI is your go-to tool for creating
interactive data visualizations and insightful
business intelligence reports. It’s designed to make
it easy for anyone to connect to data, transform it,
and create detailed visuals.
Power BI includes several components, such as
 Power BI Desktop for creating reports, Power BI Service
for online sharing, and Power BI Mobile for accessing
reports on the go. This tool is widely used in businesses
to make data-driven decisions and gain valuable
insights.
2. What are the main components of Power BI?
Power BI has several key components, each serving a
different purpose to help you work with data:
Power BI Desktop: This is a Windows application
where you can make reports by connecting to data
sources, transforming data, building data models,
and creating visualizations.
Power BI Service: An online platform where you
can view and share reports and create dashboards.
Power BI Mobile: Mobile apps for iOS, Android, and
Windows that allow you to access and interact with
your Power BI reports and dashboards on the go.
Power BI Gateway: A tool that allows you to
connect on-premises data sources to Power BI
Service for scheduled refreshes and live queries.
Power BI Report Server: An on-premises report
server where you can publish and manage Power BI
reports alongside traditional paginated reports.
Power BI Report Builder: A tool for authoring
paginated reports and publishing them to Power BI
Service. Paginated reports are optimized for
printing and PDF generation.
 Power BI Embedded: A service that allows
developers to embed Power BI reports and
dashboards into their own applications,
providing interactive data visualizations to users.
3. How do you connect to data in Power BI?
To connect to data in Power BI, you start by using
the ‘Get Data’ feature in Power BI Desktop. This
allows you to connect to various data sources like
Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, and more.
Once connected, you can either load the data
directly to the data model or use Power Query
Editor to clean and transform it. This process
centralizes your data. It makes the data easier to
analyze and visualize. This enhances your data
insights and decision-making.
4. What is Power Query?
Power Query is a powerful tool in Power BI that helps
you connect to various data sources, combine data,
and refine it for analysis. Here’s what you can do
with Power Query:
Connect to Data: Easily connect to a wide range
of data sources such as Excel, databases, web
pages, and cloud services.
Combine Data: Merge and append data from
different sources to create a unified dataset.
 Refine Data: Clean and transform your data by
removing errors, changing data types, filtering
rows, and adding custom columns.
📌 Power Query in Power BI allows you to connect
to various data sources, combine and refine data,
making it easy to prepare high-quality data for
analysis and visualization.
5. What are the different views available in
Power BI Desktop?
Power BI Desktop offers four different views to
help you work with your data:
Report View: Create and arrange visuals, such
as charts and graphs, to build your reports. You
can add, format, and customize visuals to
present your data insights effectively.
Data View: See the underlying data tables after
they are transformed and loaded through
Power Query. Inspect, filter, and understand
your data before using it in your visuals. You
can also create calculated columns in this view.
Relationship View: Define and manage the
relationships between different data tables.
You can create, edit, and visualize relationships
to ensure your data model is accurate and
well-structured.
 DAX Query View: Query your data in order to
understand it better and validate your
measures. DAX queries return data from the
model in the form of a table. Use the
EVALUATE statement to specify what and how
data is returned in the query.
📌 Report View for creating visuals, Data View for
inspecting data, and Relationship View for
managing relationships inside the model. DAX
Query View to return specific data from the model.
6. How do you publish a report in Power BI?
To publish a report in Power BI, make sure it’s
ready and saved in Power BI Desktop. Then, click
‘Publish’ and sign in to your Power BI account. Next,
pick a workspace in Power BI Service to upload the
report.
Alongside the report, you also publish the
underlying semantic model (dataset).
Once published, you can access your report in
Power BI Service. Here, you can share it with
others, set up scheduled refreshes, and manage
permissions. Publishing your report makes it easy
to collaborate and ensures everyone has access to
the latest data.
📌 Publishing and sharing reports in Power BI is
done through Power BI Service.
7. What are Filters in Power BI? Name some.
Filters in Power BI are tools that help you refine
and focus your data to display specific
information. They control what data appears in
reports. Power BI offers several types of filters:
Visual-level Filters: Apply only to the selected
visual.
Page-level Filters: Apply to all the visuals on a
specific report page.
Report-level Filters: Apply to all the visuals
across the entire report.
Drill Through Filters: Enable users to right-
click on a data point on one page (or in one
report) to navigate to a different page (or
different report) with more detailed
information.
📌 Filters in Power BI control what data appears in
reports.
8. What is a calculated column in Power BI?
A calculated column in Power BI is a new column
you create in your data model using DAX (Data
Analysis Expressions) formulas. It performs
calculations row by row and adds the results to an
existing table.
This feature is useful for adding new data fields
based on existing data, enhancing your reports
 and analysis.
📌 A calculated column in Power BI uses DAX to
add new fields to a table.
9. What is a measure in Power BI?
A measure in Power BI is a dynamic calculation
created using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions)
formulas. Unlike calculated columns, measures are
not stored in your data model. Instead, they are
calculated on the fly when used in reports.
This makes them highly flexible for performing
calculations like sums, averages, and more
complex aggregations based on the current
context of your report.
Measures are crucial for dynamic data analysis. For
example, you can create a measure to calculate
total sales, average sales per region, or year-over-
year growth. Then, you can use these in any visual
or report.
📌 A measure in Power BI uses DAX for dynamic
calculations, evaluated on the fly in reports.
10. What are the different types of data sources
you can connect to in Power BI?
Power BI connects to a wide range of data sources,
making it versatile for data analysis and
visualization. Key data sources include:
 Excel: Import data directly from Excel files.
SQL Server: Connect to SQL Server
databases for large datasets.
SharePoint: Integrate data from SharePoint
lists and libraries.
Azure: Access various Azure services like
Azure SQL Database and Azure Data Lake.
Web Data: Pull data from websites using APIs.
Other Databases: Connect to databases like
MySQL, Oracle, and PostgreSQL.
Online Services: Integrate with services like
Google Analytics and Salesforce.
Flat Files: Import data from CSV, XML, and
JSON files.
Fabric/OneLake: Access all Microsoft data
platforms (warehouses, lakehouses, dataflows,
semantic models) from a single point of entry.
📌 Power BI connects to various data sources,
making it a flexible business intelligence tool.
11. What is a Fact Table and Dimension Table in
Power BI?
In Power BI, fact tables and dimension tables are
essential components of a data model:
Fact Table:
Definition: Contains quantitative data for
analysis, such as metrics and measures.
 Purpose: Stores transactional data and
numerical values.
Example: A sales fact table might include
columns like SalesID, ProductID, CustomerID,
DateID, SalesAmount, and Quantity.
Dimension Table:
Definition: Contains descriptive information
that provides context to the facts.
Purpose: Describes dimensions like suppliers,
products, or customers.
Example: A product dimension table might
include columns like ProductID, ProductName,
Category, and Supplier.
📌 In Power BI, fact tables store quantitative data
for analysis, while dimension tables provide
descriptive context to the facts.
12. What are the rules regarding Dimension
Tables?
In Power BI, dimension tables follow these rules to
ensure effective data modeling:
Unique Keys: Each dimension table needs a
unique key to connect with fact tables.
Descriptive Attributes: Include attributes
that describe data, like names or categories.
Denormalization: Often denormalized to
reduce the number of joins and improve
performance.
Hierarchies: Include hierarchies (e.g., year,
month, day) for detailed analysis.
Consistent Granularity: Ensure the level of
detail matches that of the fact tables.
📌 Dimension tables in Power BI should have
unique keys, descriptive attributes, hierarchies, and
matching granularity with fact tables.
13. How do you connect a Fact Table and a
Dimension Table in Power BI?
You connect a fact table and a dimension table in
Power BI using a key column. Here’s how it works:
Key Column: The key column is a unique
identifier present in both the fact table and the
dimension table. It links the two tables together.
Process: In the Power BI Model view, you create
a relationship by dragging the key column from
the dimension table to the corresponding key
column in the fact table.
📌 Connect a fact table and a dimension table in
Power BI using a key column as the unique
identifier between them.
14. What are the different languages used in
Power BI?
Power BI uses two main languages:
M-Language:
Purpose: Used for data transformation in Power
Query Editor.
Functionality: Helps clean, reshape, and prepare
data before it’s loaded into the data model.
DAX (Data Analysis Expressions):
Purpose: Used for data analysis and creating
calculations.
Functionality: Allows you to create measures,
calculated columns, and complex aggregations
to analyze data.
📌 Power BI uses M-Language for data
transformation and DAX for data analysis and
calculations.
15. What is the easiest method to navigate in
Power BI?
The easiest method to navigate between different
reports in Power BI is by using Bookmarks.
Bookmarks capture the current state of a report
page, including filters, slicers, and visuals.
You can then link these bookmarks to buttons or
images, making it simple for users to navigate
between different report views or pages with just a
click.
You can also use buttons with pre-determined
functions, such as Page Navigator, Bookmark
Navigator, or a Back button, to simplify navigation.

Intermediate Level Questions

16. What is DAX?
DAX, or Data Analysis Expressions, is a formula
language used in Power BI, Excel Power Pivot, and
SQL Server Analysis Services for data modeling
and calculations.
Purpose: DAX is designed to perform data
analysis and create complex calculations. It is
used to create calculated columns, measures,
and custom tables within Power BI.
Syntax: Similar to Excel formulas but more
powerful. DAX allows operations like
aggregations, filtering, and conditional logic on
related tables or relational data.
Functions: DAX includes functions for math,
statistics, logic, text, and time intelligence,
helping you manipulate data and gain insights.
📌 DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a powerful
formula language in Power BI for data modeling
and creating complex calculations.
17. Can you give an example of a DAX function?
A popular DAX function in Power BI is FILTER. This
function creates a new table with rows that meet
specific criteria.
Purpose: FILTER helps you select rows from a
table based on a condition.
Syntax: FILTER(<table>, <condition>)
Example: Suppose you have a Sales table with
Date, Amount, and Region columns. To create
a new table with only sales from the “West”
region:
West Region Sales = FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region]
= "West")
This filters the Sales table to include only rows
where the Region is “West.”
📌 Other commonly used DAX functions include
SUM, SUMX, AVERAGE, TOTALYTD,
DISTINCTCOUNT, and CALCULATE for various data
calculations.
18. Explain the difference between a calculated
column and a measure.
In Power BI, calculated columns and measures
both create new data, but they serve different
purposes.
Calculated Column:
Calculated during data load.
Stored in the table like any other column.
 Best for row-level calculations. Each row in the
table gets a value.
Use when you want to place the calculated results
in a slicer.
Example Use: Adding profit margin for each sale.
Measure:
Calculated on the fly during query time.
Result not stored in the table. Calculated
dynamically.
Best for aggregations and calculations that
depend on the context of the report, like totals or
averages.
Example Use: Summing up total sales for a
selected time period.
📌
. Calculated columns are computed during data
load and stored in the table, while measures are
calculated on the fly during query time and are not
stored.
19. Which gives better performance: Calculated
columns or measures?
Measures generally offer better performance than
calculated columns in Power BI.
Memory Usage: Measures use less memory
because they are not stored in the data model.
Calculated columns are stored and thus consume
more memory.
 Dynamic Calculation: Measures are calculated
on the fly during query time. This make them
efficient for dynamic and context-sensitive
calculations. Calculated columns are computed
during data load. This can slow down
performance if the dataset is large.
Flexibility: Measures adapt to different
contexts within reports, providing real-time
results based on filters and slicers. Calculated
columns, once created, do not change unless
the data is refreshed.
📌 Measures are generally faster and more
efficient for dynamic calculations. Calculated
columns are better suited for static, row-level data.
20. What are the different types of relationships
in Power BI?
In Power BI, relationships define how data tables
are connected. There are three main types:
One-to-One (1:1)
Each row in one table is related to one row in
another table.
Example: Linking an employee table to an
employee details table where each employee
ID is unique in both tables.
Generally, it’s good practice to merge such
tables into a single table.
One-to-Many (1:*)
Each row in one table can be related to multiple
rows in another table.
Example: Linking a customer table to an orders
table where each customer can have multiple
orders.
Many-to-Many (*:*)
Rows in one table can relate to multiple rows in
another table and vice versa.
Example: Linking a student table to a courses table.
Students can enroll in many courses and courses
can have many students.
📌 In Power BI, relationships connect tables in three
main ways: One-to-One, One-to-Many, and Many-to-
Many.
21. How do you create relationships in Power BI?
In Power BI Desktop, you can define relationships
between tables in two ways:
Manually: You can manually create relationships
using primary and foreign keys. This involves linking
columns from different tables that share common
data.
Automatically: Power BI can automatically detect
and create relationships based on column names
and data types.
📌 Create relationships manually using keys or
automatically based on column names and data
types.
22. Can you have a table in the model which does
not have any relationship with other tables?
Yes, you can have a table in the Power BI model
that does not have any relationships with other
tables. There are two main reasons for using
disconnected tables:
Parameter Tables: Used to present parameter
values in slicers, allowing users to select
different parameters for their analysis, such as
different time periods or categories.
Placeholder for Measures: Serve as placeholders
for metrics in the user interface. They help
organize and display various measures without
needing to relate them directly to other data
tables.
📌 Disconnected tables are used for parameters or
measures without relationships to other tables.
23. What is Row-Level Security (RLS)?
Row-Level Security (RLS) in Power BI restricts data
access for specific users. This way, each user sees
only the data relevant to them.
This feature improves data security by filtering data
based on the roles assigned to different users.
Thus, only authorized people can access sensitive
information.
24. What are the different types of joins in Power
BI and their uses?
In Power BI, joins are used in Power Query to
combine (merge) data from different tables based
on a common key. Here are the main types of joins
and their uses:
Inner Join
Returns only the rows with matching keys in
both tables.
Ideal for finding data that exists in both tables.
Such as customers who have made purchases.
Left Outer Join
Returns all rows from the left table and the
matched rows from the right table. Unmatched
rows from the right table will show as null.
Useful for keeping all records from the left table.
Such as listing all employees and their
departments, including those not assigned to
any department.
Right Outer Join
Returns all rows from the right table and the
matched rows from the left table. Unmatched
rows from the left table will show as null.
 Useful for keeping all records from the right table.
Such as listing all sales regions and their
representatives, including regions without
representatives.
Full Outer Join
Returns all rows when there is a match in either
the left or right table. Unmatched rows will show
as null from the respective table.
Useful for retaining all records from both tables.
Such as combining customer and order tables to
see all customers and orders, including those with
no matches.
Anti Join
Returns rows from one table that do not have a
match in the other table.
Useful for finding unmatched records. Such as
identifying customers who have not made any
purchases.
📌 In Power BI, different types of joins (Inner, Left
Outer, Right Outer, Full Outer, and Anti Join) combine
data from tables based on their specific purposes.
25. What are the major differences between Power
BI and Excel?
Power BI and Excel are both used for data analysis,
but they have significant differences:
Data Relationships:
Excel: Supports single directional relationships
(one-to-many).
Power BI: Supports bi-directional relationships for
more complex data models.
Cross-Filtering:
Excel: Does not support bi-directional cross-
filtering.
Power BI: Enables bi-directional cross-filtering for
interactive reports.
Security:
Excel: Limited security features for data access
and sharing.
Power BI: Robust security features. This includes
Row-Level Security (RLS), to control data access
based on user roles.
Data Import Options:
Excel: Primarily uses single import mode.
Power BI: Offers multiple import options, including
Import Mode and DirectQuery for real-time data
connectivity.
📌 Use Excel for detailed data analysis, financial
modeling, and ease of use. Power BI is superior for
interactive visualizations, handling large datasets, and
secure, collaborative reporting​.
26. How to set up Auto-refresh in Power BI?
Auto-refresh can be done using the Power BI
Service. First, go to the dataset settings in Power BI
Service. Configure the refresh schedule by setting
the frequency, such as daily or weekly. Ensure your
data source credentials are correctly entered.
📌 Use the refresh schedule in Power BI Service to
keep data automatically up to date.
27. Explain the difference between Power BI
Desktop and Power BI Service.
Power BI Desktop and Power BI Service are essential
components of Power BI. They each serve unique
purposes.
Power BI Desktop:
Used for creating reports and visualizations
locally.
Allows you to connect to data sources, transform
data, and build interactive reports on your
computer. It’s a free application with robust data
modeling and visualization tools.
Power BI Service:
Used for sharing and accessing reports online.
A cloud-based service where you can publish
reports created in Power BI Desktop, share them,
and access them from anywhere. It offers
collaboration, dashboards, and data refresh
capabilities.
📌 Power BI Desktop is for creating reports locally,
while Power BI Service is for sharing and accessing
reports online.
28. What is a Power BI workspace?
A Power BI workspace is a collaborative
environment. They are used to organize reports,
dashboards, semantic models (datasets), and
dataflows into collections. A workspace owner can
control access by assigning workspace roles to
other users.
It acts as a central hub for team projects and data
analysis, enabling collaboration and efficient data
management.
29. How do you optimize Power BI reports for
performance?
To optimize Power BI reports for performance, follow
these best practices:
1. Reduce the Amount of Data: Load to the data
model only the columns you require for analysis.
Remove unnecessary columns and filter out
unnecessary rows.
2. Ensure Efficient Data Models: Design data
models with proper relationships and avoid
unnecessary columns and tables.
3. Use Aggregations: Aggregate data at the source
to minimize the data processed by Power BI.
 4.Simplify Visuals: Use fewer and simpler visuals
to reduce rendering time.
5.Optimize DAX Calculations: Write efficient
DAX formulas and avoid complex calculations on
large datasets.
6.Limit Direct Queries: Use import mode instead
of direct query mode when possible to improve
performance.
Power BI provides several optimization tools. Run the
built-in Performance Analyzer to catch and address
any lags before you publish the report.
When using Direct Query, consider query reduction.
You can apply it from the Optimization presets
menu. It turns off cross-highlighting and cross-
filtering and adds an Apply button to the filter pane.
That way the data doesn’t reload with every change
you make.
📌 Optimize slow performance in Power BI reports
by reducing the amount of data, designing efficient
data models, simplifying visuals, aggregating data,
optimizing DAX, and limiting direct queries.
30. What is the difference between a slicer and a
filter in Power BI?
In Power BI, a slicer is an interactive visual tool that
lets users filter data on a report page. Slicers can be
dropdowns, checkboxes, or buttons. Users click
them to filter visuals on the same page.
By editing interactions, you can control which visuals
are controlled by slicers. By syncing slicers, you can
make them active across the report. They are highly
interactive and visible to users.
Filters, on the other hand, can be set in the background
to control what data is included in the report
visualizations. Users can change filters from the filter
pane unless they’re locked. Filters are less prominent
and less intuitive compared to slicers.
Filters, can be applied at different levels:
Visual-Level: Controls data for a specific visual.
Page-Level: Affects all visuals on a single report
page.
Report-Level: Applies to all pages in the report,
providing broader data control.
While slicers are highly interactive and visible to users,
filters can be set in the background to control the data
without being as prominently displayed in the report
visualization.
📌 The main difference between slicers and filters lies
in their visibility and user interactions. Slicers are
interactive tools for filtering data on a report page.
They’re part of the report canvas. Filters can be applied
from a side pane at visual, page, or report levels and can
be set in the background.
31. Explain the difference between SUM and SUMX
in DAX.
In DAX, both SUM and SUMX are used for adding up
values, but they work in different ways.
SUM is used to add all values in a single column.
It’s straightforward and quick. For example, if
you have a column of sales amounts, SUM can
add up all the sales amounts in that column.
SUMX is more flexible. It goes through each row
in a table, calculates an expression for each row,
and then adds up those results. For example,
consider a table with quantity and price
columns. SUMX can calculate the total sales by
multiplying quantity by price for each row and
then adding up those values.
📌 SUM adds values in a single column. SUMX
iterates over a table, calculating an expression for
each row. Other commonly used iterator functions
in DAX include AVERAGEX, MINX, MAXX, and
COUNTX.
32. What is the purpose of time intelligence
functions in Power BI?
Time intelligence functions in Power BI simplify
analyzing time-based data. They help users
calculate and compare data across different
periods, such as days, months, quarters, and years.
These functions create measures that adjust based
on the date context. This makes it easy to track
trends, compare current and past performance, and
forecast future outcomes.
Examples of Time Intelligence Functions:
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR: Returns a table of dates
shifted by one year back in time from the current
date context. Use it as filter inside CALCULATE to
return an aggregated value for the previous year.
Useful for year-over-year comparisons.
DATESYTD: Returns a table of dates for the year
to date in the current context. Use it inside
CALCULATE to return a running total. Or use
TOTALYTD for a simpler syntax.
DATEADD: Shifts dates by a specified number of
intervals (days, months, quarters, years), useful for
creating custom date ranges.
📌 Time intelligence functions in Power BI simplify
analyzing time-based data by enabling calculations
and comparisons across different periods.
33. What is a Semantic Model?
A semantic model in Power BI, previously known as a
dataset, is the organized structure of underlying data
used to build reports and dashboards. It includes
tables, relationships, hierarchies, RLS (Row-Level
Security) rules, measures, and other calculations.
📌 A semantic model in Power BI organizes all
underlying data, including tables and calculations,
used to build reports and dashboards.

Advanced Level Questions

34. What is the difference between a star schema
and a snowflake schema in data modeling?
Star Schema:
A star schema is a type of data model used in
databases and data warehouses. It consists of a
central fact table that holds measurable data, like
sales or revenue. This fact table is linked to many
dimension tables. They store attributes like time,
products, and customers.
This straightforward structure simplifies queries and
improves performance by allowing quick data
retrieval and easy analysis.
Snowflake Schema:
A snowflake schema, on the other hand, normalizes
dimension tables into multiple related tables. This
creates a more complex structure compared to a
star schema. In this model, dimension tables are
broken down into smaller tables. Each contains
specific attributes connected through foreign keys.
This design reduces data redundancy but increases
complexity and can lead to longer query times.
📌 A star schema features a central fact table
linked to dimension tables, simplifying queries and
improving performance. A snowflake schema
normalizes dimension tables into multiple related
tables, reducing data redundancy but increasing
complexity.
35. What is the purpose of the CALCULATE
function in DAX?
The CALCULATE function in DAX modifies the filter
context of an expression. This enable complex
calculations and dynamic aggregations. By changing
the filter context, CALCULATE allows you to evaluate
an expression based on specific conditions or
criteria.
For example, you can use CALCULATE to sum sales
amounts for a specific region or time period,
regardless of other filters applied to the report.
📌 CALCULATE is the most powerful DAX function
because it is the only one that can modify filter
context.
36. What is the USERELATIONSHIP function in
DAX?
The USERELATIONSHIP function in DAX activates an
inactive relationship between two tables for the
duration of a calculation.
This allows you to use a different relationship than
the currently active one in your data model. It is
particularly useful when you have multiple
relationships between tables and need to specify
which one to use for a specific calculation.
37. How do you handle many-to-many
relationships in Power BI?
Power BI supports direct many-to-many
relationships, allowing tables to connect without
unique values. However, using this feature can
cause issues.
Risks of Direct Many-to-Many Relationships:
Ambiguous Results: Undefined relationships
can lead to incorrect data in reports.
Complexity: Makes the data model harder to
understand and maintain.
Complex DAX measures: Handling these
relationships may require more complex DAX
measures.
Performance Issues: Complex queries can slow
down your reports, especially with large
datasets.
Recommended Approach: Use a Bridge Table
A bridge table simplifies your data model and
ensures accurate analysis. Here’s how to set it up:
Create a Bridge Table: This table should
contain unique key combinations from the two
 tables with the many-to-many relationship.
Establish Relationships: Connect each original
table to the bridge table with one-to-many
relationships. This resolves the many-to-many
issue
📌 Many-to-many relationships can lead to
incorrect analysis in Power BI. Use a bridge table to
simplify your data model and improve accuracy.
38. What is the difference between VALUES and
DISTINCT in DAX?
In DAX, VALUES and DISTINCT are used to get unique
values, but they work slightly differently:
VALUES: Returns a single column or table
(depending on the input) of unique values,
including a blank row for null values. It’s useful
when you need to consider all unique entries,
including blanks.
DISTINCT: Returns unique values by removing
duplicates, but does not include a blank row for
null values.
📌 VALUES returns unique values including blanks.
DISTINCT removes duplicates without including
blanks.
39. What is the purpose of the CROSSFILTER
function in DAX?
The CROSSFILTER function in DAX modifies the
direction of cross-filtering between two related
tables. It allows you to control how filters are
applied, enabling precise management of data flow
between tables.
For example, consider two tables with a relationship.
CROSSFILTER can set the cross-filtering direction to
one-way or both ways, depending on your analysis
needs. This is especially handy when you need to
pass the filter from the many to the one side of the
relationship. Such as determining the numbers of
customers in different regions.
📌 CROSSFILTER changes the direction of cross-
filtering between related tables.
40. How do you manage dynamic data updates in
Power BI?
To handle dynamic data updates in Power BI, you
can use several methods:
Scheduled Refreshes: Set up scheduled
refreshes in the Power BI Service to
automatically update your data at specified
intervals, like daily or hourly. This keeps your
reports up-to-date with the latest data.
Live Connections: Use live connections to data
sources like SQL Server or Azure Analysis
Services. This allows Power BI to query the data
source directly, providing real-time data
updates without importing data.
Real-Time Data Streaming: Implement real-
time data streaming to display data as it comes
in. Use streaming datasets in Power BI, which can
ingest data from sources like Azure Stream
Analytics or the Power BI REST API, allowing for
dashboards that update in real time.
📌 Keep your Power BI reports up to date using
scheduled refreshes, live connections, or real-time
data streaming.
41. Explain Row Context and Filter Context.
In DAX, row context and filter context are two key
concepts that affect how calculations are
performed.
Row Context:
Row context refers to the current row being
processed in a table. It applies when DAX
functions evaluate each row individually.
Example: When adding a calculated column to a
sales table to calculate profit (sales amount
minus cost), DAX applies the formula to each
row separately, which is the row context.
Filter Context:
Filter context is the set of filters applied to data
before a calculation. These filters can come from
slicers, report filters, or DAX functions like
CALCULATE.
Example: If a report is filtered to show sales for a
specific year, the filter context includes only
data for that year. When calculating total sales, it
sums only the sales for the selected year,
respecting the filter context.
📌 In DAX, row context applies to calculations on
individual rows. Filter context applies filters before a
calculation, affecting the data considered.
42. What is the difference between ‘Append
Query’ and ‘Merge Query’ in Power BI?
In Power BI, Append Query and Merge Query are
used to combine data, but they work differently:
Append Query:
Adds rows from one table to another.
Use it to stack data from tables with similar
structures. Such as combining monthly sales
tables into one table.
Merge Query:
Combines columns from two tables based on a
common key.
Use it to join tables by matching rows using a
key column, similar to a SQL join. Such as
merging a customer table with an orders table
based on CustomerID.
📌 Append Query adds rows from one table to
another. Merge Query combines columns from two
tables based on a common key.
43. How do you compare last year’s numbers to
this year’s numbers in Power BI?
To compare last year’s numbers to this year’s in
Power BI, you can use the DAX functions
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR or DATEADD inside a
CALCULATE statement. This shifts the dates back in
time to adjust the filter context.
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR: Shifts dates by exactly
one year, making it ideal for year-over-year
comparisons. It’s straightforward and easy to
use for comparing the same period across
different years.
DATEADD: Offers more flexibility, allowing you to
shift dates by various intervals such as days,
months, or years. This is useful for comparisons
over different time periods, not just yearly.
44. What is the purpose of the ‘What If’ parameter
in Power BI?
The ‘What If’ parameter, now called a Numeric Range
Parameter, in Power BI allows users to visualize
different scenarios by dynamically changing
parameter values.It’s ideal for interactive reports,
enabling users to see changes in visuals and
calculations instantly. This is useful for scenario
analysis and forecasting.
With the ‘What If’ parameter, users can simulate
different situations. For example, they can adjust
sales targets, costs, or other key metrics and see
the impact on performance.
To create one, select “New parameter” from the
Modeling tab in Power BI Desktop, and choose
“Numeric range”.
45. Can we have two active relationships between
two tables in Power BI?
No, you cannot have two active relationships
between two tables in Power BI at the same time.
Power BI allows only one active relationship between
any two tables.
However, you can have multiple inactive
relationships. These can be activated in specific
DAX calculations using the USERELATIONSHIP
function.
46. What is a Power BI App?
A Power BI App bundles related dashboards and
reports. This makes data access and interaction
more organized and consistent. It is shared with user
groups, ensuring everyone has access to the right
data.
Packaged Content: An app can include one or
more dashboards and reports.
 Sharing: Apps make it easy to share these
collections with other users, ensuring they have
access to the right data.
Navigation: Users can easily navigate through
the app to find the specific data they need. This
eliminates the need to search through multiple
individual reports or dashboards.
Updates: When the data or reports within an
app are updated, the changes are automatically
available to all users of the app.
📌 A Power BI App bundles dashboards and reports
for organized, consistent data access and easy
sharing with user groups.
47. What are dataflows in Power BI and some of
their benefits?
Dataflows in Power BI let users create, manage, and
reuse data preparation steps across multiple
reports and dashboards.
Benefits include:
Data Reuse: Dataflows can be reused in
different reports and dashboards, saving time
and ensuring consistency.
Improved Data Consistency: They centralize
data transformation rules, leading to more
accurate and reliable reports.
Centralized Data Management: They simplify
governance by storing and managing data in one
place, making it easier to maintain quality.
📌 Dataflows in Power BI enable reusable data
preparation across multiple reports and
dashboards.
48. Where is data stored in Power BI?
In Power BI, data storage depends on the
connectivity mode you choose.
Import Mode:
Data is imported into Power BI and stored within
the Power BI memory cache dataset itself.
Best for smaller datasets or when fast
performance is needed, as the data is stored in-
memory.
DirectQuery Mode:
Data remains in the source system, and Power BI
queries it in real-time.
Ideal for large datasets or when you need the
most current data. Performance can be slower
since queries are sent to the original data
source.
Composite Models:
Allow a report to have two or more data
connections, including DirectQuery connections
or Import, in any combination.
 You can set the storage mode for each table
individually in your model.
You can choose between Import, DirectQuery,
and Dual.
Dual Mode combines both Import and
DirectQuery modes for a single table. The
mode used depends on the context:
Calculations or measures requiring real-
time data will trigger DirectQuery mode.
Calculations that can be performed on
pre-cached data will use Import mode.
📌 In Power BI, data storage depends on the
connectivity mode: Import Mode for in-memory
storage, DirectQuery Mode for real-time queries,
and Composite Models for a mix of both.
49. What is Fabric?
Microsoft Fabric is an end-to-end data analytics
platform. It integrates various data services and
tools into a single, unified experience.
Data engineers and admins use the platform to
manage and integrate the organization’s data
infrastructure. It facilitates collaboration between
data engineers, data scientists, and business
analysts.
Power BI is part of Microsoft Fabric. Other services
include Data Engineering, Data Factory, Data
 Science, Real-Time Analytics, Data Warehouse, and
Databases. Many Azure products are bundled into
Fabric, like Synapse Analytics, Azure Machine
Learning, Data Lake Storage, Databricks, and more.
It also includes OneLake, which is the centralized
storage. It’s a single point of entry for all the internal
data sources (like OneDrive for data).
📌 Microsoft Fabric is a comprehensive data
analytics platform that integrates various data
services, including Power BI, into a unified
experience.
50. What is OneLake Data Hub?
OneLake Data Hub, formerly Power BI Data Hub, is a
shortcut on the Power BI ribbon that lets users find
and connect to existing Microsoft Fabric items. Such
as Power BI semantic models, lakehouses,
warehouses, or Datamarts.
OneLake is akin to OneDrive for data, providing
integrated cloud storage and a single entry point for
all internal data sources.
📌 OneLake Data Hub allows users to connect to
Microsoft Fabric items. It serves as integrated cloud
storage for all internal data sources, similar to
OneDrive for data.