As you all know, the demand for data is increasing exponentially in the modern era. Data analysis and visualization help in providing insight for any business. Also, the data visualization tells us about the competitive market of the industry ecosystem. With such granular information, business intelligence analysts can predict the market need and analyze the growth of the firm.
Data visualization plays a significant role in modeling such data into graphical form. Tableau is a Business intelligence (BI) software that enables robust data visualization. It has rich graphical representation (charts, graphs, colors, etc.) formats that allow finding better analytical insight on granular data. If you are looking for the top 20 tableau interview questions & answers for your job preparation, this article is for you.
Tableau interview question and answers:
Tableau is one of the top data visualization and graphical data representation tool. Most companies hire professionals (BI analysts, data science aspirants, and data analysts) at different levels for analyzing data and extracting visual insights. Here is a statistical representation of data showing the rank and popularity of Tableau.
As per the forecasting and job reports, by the end of 2022, the industry will require data analysts, BI analysts, and data scientists with proficient knowledge of Tableau. Without further ado, let us jump into the top 20 Tableau interview questions.
1. How will you define data visualization to a kid of the 6th standard?
Ans: Data visualization is a way of representing corporate granular data with rich visuals and interactive elements. For making the data look more visually attractive, we can use data visualization elements like charts, graphs, data points, etc.
2. What is Tableau?
Ans: Tableau is a leading and fastest-growing data visualization software, which is well-accepted in the market for its simplification and easily understandable format. With Tableau, any business can share visual insights that help sense the data better and make business decisions accordingly.
3. What are Tableau Parameters? Name them with their slight description.
Ans: Parameters are variables that help in replacing a constant value for calculations, reference lines, or filtering. Parameters enable BI analysts to alter values while calculating any particular data dynamically. Tableau parameters accept different values in the options like:
-
- All: This is a simple text field
- List: It is a collection of all possible values that we can select from
- Range: These are selected values from a specified range
4. Mention some differences between Tableau and MS. Excel.
Ans:
| Tableau | MS. Excel | |
| Use: | It is a visualization tool that helps in analyzing data. | It is spreadsheet software that helps in manipulating data. |
|
Use case: |
It is appropriate for representing big data and a bulk amount of structured and unstructured data. | It is appropriate for analyzing statistical calculations on structured data only. |
|
Basic need |
This tool requires data analysis and handling skills. | This tool requires data manipulation and mathematical knowledge. |
| Integra -tion |
Excel can integrate with nearly sixty applications. | Tableau can integrate with nearly 260+ applications. |
5. How will you define aggregation and disaggregation of data?
Ans: Aggregation of data is the showcasing of data in collection by displaying the dimensions and measures. There are four different aggregate functions available in Tableau. These are:
- SUM (expression): It performs addition on all the different values residing within the expression. It uses numeric values only.
- AVG (expression): It computes the mean or average of all the different values residing within the expression. Data analysts use this function for numeric values.
- Median (expression): This function computes the median of different values across all the data records residing within the expression. Data analysts use this function for numeric values.
- Count (): It has two variations.
- Count (expression): This function returns the amount of data available within a specific collection of expressions. It excludes all the null values.
- Count (distinct): It returns the amount of all the unique values available within the set of expressions.
6. At what situation will you use the geographical data type in Tableau?
Ans: We can use the Geographical data types when we need to deal with geographical values or geo-locations or are considered and the data is contingent on map values having both longitudes and latitudes. Tableau can help in providing both latitude and longitude values for each data location based on the Tableau map server (built-in Tableau Product) already existing inside it.
7. Is there any limitation in utilizing the number of Tableau rows?
Ans: No there isn’t any restriction of numbers in using Tableau rows. In fact, Tableau offers us to store petabytes of data with any number of rows. Tableau has the ability to process and draw only those specific data that it wants to showcase through query.
8. What are the different types of Joins that Tableau offers?
Ans: Tableau has similar characteristics as that of Structured Query Language. There are four different types of joins available in Tableau.
- Right Outer Join: This join will extract all the data records from the right table that are matching with the rows from the left table.
- Left Outer Join: This join will extract all the data records from the left table that are matching rows from the right table.
- Inner Join: This join will extract all the data records fetching from both tables.
- Full Outer Join: This join will extract all the data records from both the left and right tables. Rows that are unmatched will have the NULL value.
9. What are the different connections you can make with a dataset? Which one according to you will benefit more?
Ans: There are two different connections we can make with the dataset. These are ‘extract’ and ‘live’. Extract connection is more advantageous than Live connection. It is because data analysts can utilize it at any point within the analysis phase and from anywhere without connecting it to the database.
10. Mention the file extension for these Tableau Desktop files:
Tableau Workbook
Tableau Data Source
Tableau Data Extract
Ans:
Tableau Workbook - TWB
Tableau Data Source - TDS
Tableau Data Extract - TDE
11. What are shelves?
Ans: In the Tableau worksheets, there are a lot of named elements such as rows, columns, filters, marks, pages, etc. These are called shelves. Data analysts can assign or put entries on these shelves for creating visualizations. This will enhance the level of detailing as well as add context to it.
12. Tell me something about Load testing in Tableau.
Ans: Load testing is a special type of testing that is responsible for checking the server’s capacity concerning its workload, environment, data, etc. It becomes beneficial if the load testing is conducted 3 to 4 times a year. It is because every year user count changes (mostly increases), the system receives new updates, as well as the data workload changes with time.
13. What are the different types of filters Tableau offers?
Ans: There are six different types of filters Tableau offers. These are:
- Extract Filter: This one regains a subset of data fetching from the data source.
- Measure Filter: It helps in implementing various operations like median, sum, avg, etc.
- Context Filter: It produces datasets by implementing presets within the Tableau system.
- Dimension Filter: This is for non-aggregated or discrete data.
- Data Source Filter: This refrains its users from seeing sensitive information hence helps in reducing data feeds.
- Table Calculation Filter: This helps to implement once the view gets created.
14. What are the various Tableau dashboard components?
Ans: There are five different components that your dashboard will show you. These are
-
- Web URL: These are hyperlinks that let you navigate to a web page, resource, file, or other web content residing outside the Tableau system.
- Vertical: This is another view in Tableau dashboard that allows the users to blend the worksheets & dashboard elements in a left-to-right fashion, as well as helps in changing the width of the elements.
- Horizontal: This is a view that allows Tableau users to connect the worksheets within the dashboard in a left-to-right fashion as well as alter the elements' height.
- Image Extract: It is used for extracting an image Tableau. You can apply some code, fetch the image, as well as saves the data (in XML format) in a workbook.
- Text: Each and every textual field comes under Text.
15. Explain a little bit about the DRIVE Program Methodology.
Ans: The concept of the DRIVE program methodology helps in creating an edifice revolving around the data analytics taken from enterprise deployments. This methodology is well-accepted by Tableau users that use an iterative and involves flexible methods that are more agile and efficient.
16. Let assume your client has given you a Tableau project in which you have to visualize the movement of a tornado pivoting from its initial stage. Also, the visualization graph should represent the time duration of the cyclone entering different countries. Which Tableau map will best fit this situation?
Ans: Tableau provides a wide range of maps. Among these, the flow map will best fit this scenario because it allows us to visualize the traversal path with respect to time.
17. What are the different types of Maps available with Tableau?
Ans: Tableau offers six different types of maps that allow data analysts and BI analysts to see geo-data with rich graphics. These are:
-
- Proportional symbol maps
- Heatmaps (density maps)
- Choropleth maps (filled maps)
- Point distribution maps
- Flow maps (path maps)
- Spider maps (origin-destination maps)
18. Explain the way of viewing a SQL file produced by Tableau Desktop?
Ans: The data analysts or BI analysts have to click the My Tableau > Repository folder by navigating through My documents on the PC. The SQL file will reside there only. The analysts have to use the live connection to the data source by checking the log.txt or tabprotosrv.txt files generated by Tableau.
19. What are Tableau Bins?
Ans: Tableau bins are equal-sized containers or cells that represent storing the data values that match the bin size. Bins systematically place the value of any tableau measure onto bins.
20. Can we merge a normal Tableau view into web pages? If yes, how?
Ans: Yes, we can easily blend and combine views from the Tableau Server to any web page, blog, article, web app, or portal. To take a look at the view, you need to have the permissions required by the viewer as well as create an account on the Tableau Server. You can use the Share button and copy the embed code to apply it to other platforms.
Conclusion:
Tableau is the leading data visualization tool that is helping developers since 2013. It can improve in processing raw data into meaningful insights and facts. This comprehensive set of Tableau Questions and answers will give you a clear understanding of the levels of questions that interviewers will ask you when you will apply for Data analysts, BI analysts, and Data scientists’ roles.