Understanding Tableau Dimensions and Measures

When we input data into Tableau, Tableau automatically separates this data into two categories, dimensions and measures. Understanding the difference between the two will save you a lot of time when you are looking for specific field. In Tableau dimensions appear in blue and measures are shown in green.

Dimensions in Tableau are used to split up the view, it is qualitative/categorical data (e.g. location, dates etc.) When added to the row or column, it can be used to compare different categories and on filters it can be used to exclude categories.

Measure is quantitative data (profit, sales, discount etc.,) Tableau will automatically assign a numeric filed as a measure.

Dimension

Measure

Independent variable

Dependent variable

Cannot be aggregated

Can be aggregated

Generates headers

Creates axis

Qualitative date

Quantitative data

Sometime Tableau incorrectly categories fields. In this case, simple right click the field and select either convert to dimension or convert to field.

Author:
Diaraye Barry
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