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Power BI Interview Questions

The document contains a comprehensive list of Power BI interview questions and answers, categorized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. It covers essential concepts such as Power BI components, data connectivity, DAX functions, and report optimization techniques. Additionally, it discusses the differences between Power BI and Excel, as well as advanced topics like Row-Level Security and data storage options.

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debarati198
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12 views5 pages

Power BI Interview Questions

The document contains a comprehensive list of Power BI interview questions and answers, categorized into beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels. It covers essential concepts such as Power BI components, data connectivity, DAX functions, and report optimization techniques. Additionally, it discusses the differences between Power BI and Excel, as well as advanced topics like Row-Level Security and data storage options.

Uploaded by

debarati198
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Power BI Interview Questions & Answers

Beginner Level

1. What is Power BI?


Power BI is a Microsoft business analytics tool that enables users to connect to data sources,
transform data, and create interactive visual reports and dashboards to support data-driven
decisions.

2. What are the main components of Power BI?

• Power BI Desktop

• Power BI Service

• Power BI Mobile

• Power BI Gateway

• Power BI Report Builder

• Power BI Report Server

• Power BI Embedded

3. How do you connect to data in Power BI?


Use the Get Data option to connect to data sources like Excel, SQL Server, SharePoint, Web
APIs, and more. You can transform data using Power Query before loading it into the model.

4. What is Power Query?


Power Query is used to connect, combine, clean, and shape data. It uses M language for
advanced transformations.

5. What are the different views available in Power BI Desktop?

• Report View: Create visuals

• Data View: View tables and columns

• Model View: Manage relationships

• DAX Query View: Test DAX queries

6. How do you publish a Power BI report?


Click Publish in Power BI Desktop, sign in, and choose a workspace in Power BI Service. Your
dataset and report will be uploaded for sharing.

7. What are Filters in Power BI?

• Visual-level

• Page-level

• Report-level
• Drill-through filters

8. What is a Calculated Column?


A new column created using DAX that computes values row by row.

9. What is a Measure?
A DAX formula used to perform aggregated calculations, evaluated based on user
interactions and filters.

10. Types of Data Sources in Power BI


Power BI supports connections to Excel, SQL, Azure, SharePoint, Web APIs, CSV, JSON, and
more.

11. What are Fact and Dimension Tables?

• Fact: Stores numeric data (e.g., SalesAmount)

• Dimension: Stores descriptive data (e.g., ProductName)

12. Rules for Dimension Tables

• Must have unique keys

• Include hierarchies and attributes

• Should be denormalized for performance

13. How do you relate Fact and Dimension Tables?


Via primary–foreign key relationships using the Model view.

14. Languages in Power BI

• DAX: Calculations

• M Language: Data transformation in Power Query

15. Easiest way to navigate in Power BI?


Use Bookmarks, Buttons, and Navigators for seamless movement between pages.

Intermediate Level

16. What is DAX?


DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used for creating calculated columns,
measures, and tables.

17. Example of DAX Function

WestRegionSales = FILTER(Sales, Sales[Region] = "West")

18. Calculated Column vs Measure

• Calculated Column: Stored, row-wise

• Measure: Dynamic, evaluated during report interaction


19. Which offers better performance – Calculated Column or Measure?
Measures are more efficient — they don't increase model size and are computed at query
time.

20. Types of Relationships

• One-to-One

• One-to-Many

• Many-to-Many

21. How to Create Relationships?


Using Model View or the Manage Relationships dialog by linking key fields.

22. Can a Table Exist Without Relationships?


Yes. Standalone/disconnected tables are often used for slicers or parameter selection.

23. What is Row-Level Security (RLS)?


It restricts data visibility per user role. Users see only the data permitted by the security roles
defined.

24. Types of Joins in Power BI (Merge Queries)

• Inner Join

• Left/Right Outer Join

• Full Outer Join

• Anti Join

25. Power BI vs Excel


| Feature | Excel | Power BI | |------------------|--------------------------|-----------------------------------
---| | Data Volume | Limited | Handles large datasets | | Visuals | Basic charts | Advanced
interactive dashboards | | Sharing | Email, SharePoint | Web-based real-time sharing | |
Security | Basic | Row-Level Security, Workspaces |

26. Auto-Refresh in Power BI


Configure Scheduled Refresh in Power BI Service under dataset settings.

27. Power BI Desktop vs Power BI Service

• Desktop: Build reports locally

• Service: Publish, share, collaborate online

28. What is a Power BI Workspace?


A collaborative environment in Power BI Service for managing and sharing reports,
dashboards, datasets.

29. How to Optimize Report Performance?

• Remove unused columns

• Use import mode over DirectQuery

• Optimize DAX formulas


• Use Performance Analyzer

30. Slicer vs Filter

• Slicer: Visual, interactive filter

• Filter: Pane-based control, less visible

31. SUM vs SUMX in DAX

• SUM: Direct column aggregation

• SUMX: Row-by-row evaluation with expression

32. Purpose of Time Intelligence Functions


Perform time-based calculations (e.g., YTD, QTD, Year-over-Year) using functions like
SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR, DATESYTD.

33. What is a Semantic Model?


The dataset behind reports that includes tables, relationships, measures, security rules.

Senior/Advanced Level

34. Star Schema vs Snowflake Schema

• Star: Fact table directly connected to dimension tables. Simple, faster.

• Snowflake: Dimension tables normalized into sub-dimensions. More complex.

35. What is the CALCULATE Function in DAX?


Modifies the filter context to perform calculations under specific conditions.

36. What is USERELATIONSHIP?


Used in DAX to activate an inactive relationship for a specific calculation.

37. How to Handle Many-to-Many Relationships?


Use Bridge Tables to avoid ambiguity and performance issues.

38. VALUES vs DISTINCT in DAX

• VALUES: Returns unique values including blanks

• DISTINCT: Returns unique values excluding blanks

39. CROSSFILTER Function


Modifies the direction of filter flow between two tables.

40. Managing Dynamic Data Updates

• Scheduled Refresh

• DirectQuery

• Real-Time Streaming datasets

41. Row Context vs Filter Context


• Row Context: Operates on a row in calculated columns

• Filter Context: Applies filters from visuals/slicers

42. Append Query vs Merge Query

• Append: Stack rows

• Merge: Join tables side by side based on keys

43. Compare Current Year vs Last Year in DAX


Use SAMEPERIODLASTYEAR or DATEADD within CALCULATE

44. What is a ‘What If’ Parameter?


Creates dynamic slicers for scenario analysis with numeric input.

45. Can Two Active Relationships Exist Between Tables?


No. Only one active relationship allowed. Others must be activated using USERELATIONSHIP.

46. What is a Power BI App?


A bundled package of dashboards and reports published together for user access and
sharing.

47. What are Dataflows in Power BI?


Reusable ETL pipelines in Power BI Service. Centralized and sharable data transformation.

48. Where is Data Stored in Power BI?

• Import Mode: In-memory

• DirectQuery: Source system

• Composite Models: Mix of both

49. What is Microsoft Fabric?


An end-to-end data analytics platform integrating Power BI, Data Factory, Synapse, and
more.

50. What is OneLake Data Hub?


Centralized data storage and access layer in Microsoft Fabric. Like OneDrive for Data.

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