Top Tableau Q and A for Freshers and Experts in 2025 | iCert Global

In this Tableau interview questions and answers blog, I have put together the most usual interview questions. The questions were taken from interviews with professionals who work on data analysis and chart or graph design. If you'd like to work your way through the basics of Tableau (which I recommend doing prior to reading this list of interview questions for beginners and experts), work your way through the Tableau Tutorial blog.

1. What are Traditional BI Tools, and how do they differ from Tableau?

Following is a general comparison of how Traditional Business Intelligence (BI) Tools vary from Tableau:

• Legacy BI Tools/Tableau
• Rely greatly on hardware and hence less adaptable.
• No hardware dependency—more flexible and scalable.
• Constructed using an integration of several various technologies. Employs quick and dynamic associative search technology.

• Usually do not facilitate multi-core processing or in-memory computing.
• Supports in-memory computing when combined with modern technologies.
• Provides a fixed view of the data, limiting the scope of analysis.
• Supports predictive analysis to enable more intelligent business decisions.

2. What is Tableau?

Tableau is a robust business intelligence (BI) and data visualization software that enables one to visualize his or her data easily and succinctly. It:

• Conveniently interfaces with different kinds of data sources.

• Transforms raw data into sharable and interactive visual reports.

•Streamlines user decision-making with simple dashboards and clear data stories.

3. What are the Various Tableau Products and the Latest Version?

Tableau Online is the cloud-based version of Tableau Server. Below is a brief overview of each of them:

1. Tableau Desktop

Tableau Desktop is a program which enables you to create charts, graphs, and dashboards without needing to write code. You can connect to your data sources directly, analyze live data, and create interactive reports. It allows you to bring data from numerous different sources and bring them all together in one location.

2. Tableau Server

Tableau Server is for companies. Once you build dashboards in Tableau Desktop, you can share and publish them securely with your staff members through Tableau Server. It has live data and enables teams to make faster decisions.

3. Tableau Online

Tableau Online is the cloud offering of Tableau Server. Nothing to install—Tableau hosts it. Simply publish your dashboards from Tableau Desktop and share them with others online, anywhere.

4. Tableau Public

Tableau Public is free. You can publish and share visualizations, but your work is hosted online and available to everyone. It is suitable for learning or publishing public data, but not private business data.

4. What are the Various Types of Data in Tableau?

Tableau has various data types. Each data type assists Tableau to understand how to show and handle the data. The below are the primary data types supported by Tableau:

1. Text (String)

Used for words, names, sets, or for any combination of numbers and letters (e.g., "New York," "Product A").

2. Whole and Decimal Numbers

• Integer (Whole Number) – For counting (e.g., 100, -5)

• Decimal (Floating Point) – For numbers with decimals (e.g., 10.5, 3.14)

3. Date and Date & Time

Applied to calendar dates:

• Date – i.e., 2025-06-30

• Date & Time – i.e., 2025-06-30 14:30:00

4. Boolean

A value of true or false. Used in logic-based areas and filters.

5. Geography

• Used to plot data. Contains fields like:

• Country

• Region/Area

• Town

• Zip code

• Latitude/Longitude

6. Cluster Group (Generated)

Provided when Tableau groups similar data points. These are not typed out manually; instead, Tableau gives them whenever it does cluster or group analysis.

5. What Are Measures and Dimensions in Tableau?

In Tableau, data is separated into Measures and Dimensions:

Sizes

• They are descriptive fields—such as names, dates, or categories.

• They define "what" the data is describing (e.g., Product Name, Country, or Category).

• Dimensions allow you to slice and aggregate data in your charts.

• For example, a Product dimension can have Product Name, Type, and Color.

Steps

• These are numbers that can be added up or counted—such as totals, averages, or numbers.

• Measurements are employed to perform calculations and analysis.

• Example: Sales, Quantity Sold, and Profit are indicators.

Quick Example:

In a Sales dataset:

• Dimensions = Customer Name, Region, Product Category

• Measurements = Total Sales, Units Sold, Profit Margin

6. What is the difference between .twb and .twbx files in Tableau?

• File Type Description
• .twb (Tableau Workbook)
• An XML file that contains your visualizations, layouts, and settings but not the data.
• .twbx (Tableau Packaged Workbook) is a zipped file containing the .twb file along with any data sources, images, or custom components. It is optimal to share.
• Tip: Use .twbx when you export your work to another individual—it keeps it all together.

7 . What different join methods can you use in Tableau?

Similar to SQL, Tableau also has four primary join types to combine information from two tables:

• Join Type Explanation
• Inner Join
• Returns only the matching rows from both tables.
• Left Join includes all records from the left table and matched records from the right table.
• Right Join produces the rows from the right table and the matching rows from the left table.
• Full Outer Join
• Produces all rows if there is a match in the left or the right table.
• These joins help you combine datasets to produce more informed visuals and findings.

8. How Many Tables Can I Join in Tableau?

In Tableau, you are allowed to join a maximum of 32 tables within a single data source. This assists in building rich datasets by joining various tables, such as joins in SQL.

9. What are the Various Types of Data Connections in Tableau?

Tableau connects you to your data in two primary ways:

1. Live Link

• Points directly to the data source.

• Queries the database in real-time.

• Displays latest data automatically.

• Helpful when dealing with ever-changing data.

2. Extract Connection

• Generates a static version of your data.

• Stored in Tableau's high-performance, in-memory data engine.

• Is updated manually or updated at regular intervals.

• Offline-capable—ideal for performance and portability.

Which to Use

• Use Live when you want updates immediately.

• Use Extract when performance is critical or if you're operating offline.

10. What Is Shelves in Tableau?

Shelves are special spaces in Tableau where you can drag data fields in an effort to construct your visuals.

Shared Shelves:

• Columns Shelf – Places data fields along the top (horizontal axis).

• Rows Shelf – Places data fields along the side (y-axis).

• Shelf Filters – Displays filtered data in the view.

• Pages Shelf – Splits a view into multiple pages.

• Marks Card – Determines the way marks appear (colour, size, label, etc.).

Note: Certain shelves appear only if you select specific mark types (such as bar, line, or circle).

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Conclusion

Tableau is an excellent tool to present data in a graphical manner. It has handy features such as dashboards, data connections, and interactive reports. Knowledge of the key concepts such as dimensions, measures, sets, and joins prepares you to produce useful insights. Knowledge of these fundamentals prepares you for Tableau interviews and real-world use.

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