Most Frequently Asked Tableau Interview Questions

Prashant Sharma 02 Sep, 2022 • 6 min read

This article was published as a part of the Data Science Blogathon.

Introduction

Tableau is a data visualization tool created in Salesforce that allows users to connect to any database, like SQL or MongoDB, and interact freely. It is widely used in the Business Intelligence industry, and raw data is quickly simplified to any format that users can understand. Dashboards are intended to visualize data, which should be presented in tabular form. It is also used in reporting and is commonly referred to as a reporting tool. It helps with data exploration, visualization, and report production. It is written in C++. Read till the bottom to find answers to some of the most frequently asked Tableau Interview Questions and their answers.

Tableau Interview Questions
Source:datatobiz.com

Features

  • Tableau provides advanced and powerful data discovery and exploration, allowing users to answer critical questions in seconds.

  • No prior programming expertise is required; users with no relevant skills can begin building visualization using Tableau immediately.

  • It can connect to various data sources other BI tools cannot. Tableau users may construct reports by merging and mixing several datasets.

  • Tableau Server provides a centralized place for managing all published data sources inside an organization.

Tableau Product Package

Tableau provides the following major products:

  • Tableau Desktop

  • Tableau Public

  • Tableau Online

  • Tableau Server

  • Tableau Reader

Tableau data analytics may be divided into two categories:

  • Developer Tools: These are the Tableau tools used for development, like the production of dashboards, charts, report generation, and visualization. Tableau Desktop and Tableau Public are examples of Tableau products in this category.

  • Sharing Tools: As the name implies, the objective of these Tableau products is to share visualizations, reports, and dashboards developed using developer tools. Tableau Online, Server, and Reader are examples of products in this category.

Tableau Interview Questions

1. What is Tableau Data Engine?

One of the common Tableau Interview Questions, Tableau Data Engine is an analytical database and a Tableau tool that was created to provide quick query response and predictive performance. It fits effortlessly into the current data infrastructure and is not confined to loading whole datasets into memory.

It takes time to import, generate indexes, and sort big data. However, after these procedures, it finally speeds up. It is not an in-memory technology. After the data is imported, it is saved to disk, and the RAM is rarely used.

2. How many different kinds of filters are available in Tableau?

Filters present viewers with the correct information after eliminating extraneous data. Tableau provides multiple kinds of filters.

  • Extract Filters – Extract filters are used to add filters to data extracted from a data source. Data is taken from the data source and stored in the Tableau data repository for this filter.

  • Datasource Filters – These are the same as extract filters. They are also working with the extracted dataset. The only distinction is that it can function with live and extracted connections.

  • Context Filters: Context Filters are used on data rows before any other filters are applied. They are restricted to views but can be used on specific sheets. In Tableau, they describe the aggregation and disaggregation of data.

  • Dimension Filters: Dimension Filters are used in spreadsheets to apply filters to dimensions. Dimension filters are used in conjunction with the top or bottom conditions, formula, and wildcard match.

  • Measure Filters: Measure Filters are applied to the values in the measurements.

  • Table Calculation Filter: When we don’t want to change the underlying data, we use these filters.

3. What are the dashboard’s components?

Yet another common Tableau interview question, The dashboard is made up of five parts.

  • Web: It is a web page embedded in the dashboard.

  • Horizontal component: A horizontal layout container into which we may insert things.

  • Vertical component: A vertical layout container into which we may insert things.

  • Image Extract: This feature allows you to upload an image from your PC to the dashboard.

  • Text: It is a little Wordpad in which we may format and modify text.

4. How to deal with null values in Tableau?

Tableau cannot display null values on the axis. As a result, an indicator will appear in the lower right corner of the screen. When you click on that indication, you will be given alternatives for dealing with null values. The alternatives for dealing with null values are listed below.

  • Filter Data – If you select this option, all null values will be filtered or removed from the display.

  • Show Data at Default Location – Replaces the null value with the default value and displays the data on the axis at the default position. The data type of the field determines these default values. The defaults of a certain data type are listed below.

Numbers →0
Dates → 12-31-1899
Geographic Location → (0,0)
Negative Values → 1

5. Why use Tableau?

  • Tableau is simple and easy to use.

  • Tableau assists in data analysis and may be used to convert raw data into an understandable manner.

  • Users may combine the data with other data to build their views on it, which they can then share with clients and colleagues.

  • Users have the ability to manage a significant amount of data.

  • It is simple to integrate with various data sources.

  • Tableau can generate complicated graphs that resemble pivot table graphs in Excel.

  • It performs fast computations on datasets.

  • Users may quickly generate graphics and switch between types to get the model that best represents the user conversations.

6. Differentiate between parameters and filters in Tableau.

Tableau’s filters are the simplest and most easy tool. It is immediately applicable to dimensions or measurements. For example, we may use the filter to show only Gujarat or Karnataka in a State dimension. There are several UI possibilities for filters in Tableau, including radio buttons, drop-down lists, checkboxes, sliders, and more. Tableau has sheet-based filters too.

Parameters are similar to variables. They are more complicated and stronger. A parameter, like a variable, may be used in calculations. That indicates it can only accept a single value. Except for checkboxes, which don’t have a single value, all parameters have the same UI choices. For example, we may define an interest rate and a period and then use these parameters to compute interest and principal payments.

7. How do you improve the dashboard’s performance?

  • Reduce the number of fields.

  • Reduce the number of records.

  • Reduce the marks in your view

  • Limit the number of filters.

  • Make use of an include filter.

  • Make use of a continuous data filter.

  • Use action filters and parameters to your advantage.

  • Cut down on the number of nested computations.

  • Custom SQL should be removed.

  • Organize and clean up the workbooks.

8. List the Tableau File Extensions.

A few Tableau extensions are listed below:

  • Tableau Workbook (.twb)

  • Tableau Data Extraction (.tde)

  • Tableau Datasource (.tds)

  • Tableau Packaged Datasource (.tdsx)

  • Tableau Bookmark (.tbm)

  • Tableau Map Source (.tms)

  • Tableau Packaged Workbook (.twbx) Is a zip file containing. twb and external files.

  • Tableau Preferences (.tps)

9. What distinguishes Tableau from other traditional reporting and business intelligence tools?

Covering this one of the common Tableau Interview Questions, Traditional BI systems are solid and capable of scaling and dependability, and several well-known software companies have endorsed them. These systems provide adequate data security; nevertheless, they require excellent BI technical knowledge and expertise to operate. Traditional BI tools include Oracle BI and QlikView.

Tableau is one of the most popular BI tools today, providing simple operation and understanding without requiring extensive knowledge of BI capabilities. It has simple drag-and-drop capabilities and a clever approach to organizing data fields. However, data security is unavailable in Tableau Public, whereas security is enabled in the professional edition.

10. How does one embed views into web pages?

To embed views and modify the default look, do the following:

  • Obtain the embed code provided with the view: The Share button at the top of each view has an embed code that may be copied and pasted onto a web page. (If the showShareOptions option is set to false in the code, the Share button does not appear in embedded views.)

  • Customize the embed code: The embed code may be customized with parameters that regulate the toolbar, tabs, and more.

  • Use the Tableau JavaScript API: Tableau JavaScript objects may be used in web apps. Visit the Tableau Developer Portal to get access to the API, code samples, documentation, and Tableau developer community.

11. What is a Calculated Field, and How Do You Create One?

A calculated field is used to create newly updated and modified fields from existing data in a data source. It may be used to make more robust visualizations without affecting the original dataset.

for example, Calculate the “average delay to ship,”

The data set under consideration here contains order date and ship date information for four distinct regions. To make a calculated field, follow these steps:

  • Step 1: Go to Analysis > Choose to Create Calculated Field.
  • Step 2: A computation editor appears on the screen. Give the computed field a name, like Shipping Delay.
  • Step 3: Enter the formula: DATEDIFF (‘day,’ [Order Date], [Ship Date])
  • Step 4: Click the OK button.
  • Step 5: Bring Shipping Delay into view.
  • Step 6: Repeat steps 1–5 to create a new calculated field called ‘Average Shipping Delay’ using the formula: AVG (DATEDIFF (‘day,’ [Order Date], [Ship Date])).
  • Step 7: Drag the Region field to the Rows shelf and SUM (Average Shipping Delay) to the Marks card to see the average shipping delay for each region.

Conclusion

This article is about Tableau, a business intelligence software that visualizes and generates interactive, shared dashboards and permits anybody to access their data. The page includes basic to advanced Tableau Interview Questions, as well as the following topics:

  • What is a tableau, and what are its salient features?

  • Tableau’s Product Package and different filters

  • Difference between tableau and other BI tools

  • File extensions, web components, and various other subjects are covered.

The media shown in this article is not owned by Analytics Vidhya and is used at the Author’s discretion.

Prashant Sharma 02 Sep 2022

Currently, I Am pursuing my Bachelors of Technology( B.Tech) from Vellore Institute of Technology. I am very enthusiastic about programming and its real applications including software development, machine learning and data science.

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