Top 20 Power BI Interview Questions and Answers for 2024

Are you preparing for a Power BI interview? As the demand for skilled Power BI professionals continues to grow, it is essential to be well-prepared for interviews to stand out from the competition. In this article, we have compiled a list of the top 40 Power BI interview questions and answers for 2024 that will help you showcase your expertise and secure your dream job.

Power BI Interview Questions and Answers

1. What is Power BI?

Power BI is a business analytics tool developed by Microsoft that allows users to analyze data and share insights. It provides interactive visualizations and business intelligence capabilities with an interface that is easy to use.

2. Mention the types of connections in Power BI.

Power BI supports three types of connections:

• DirectQuery

• Import

• Live Connection

3. What is the difference between DirectQuery and Import connection mode?

In DirectQuery mode, Power BI connects directly to the data source and queries data in real-time. On the other hand, in Import mode, data is loaded into Power BI's internal data model, which allows for faster analysis and visualization but may have limitations on real-time data updates.

4. What are calculated columns in Power BI?

Calculated columns are columns created in Power BI using DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) formulas. These columns are calculated during the data loading process and can be used in visualizations and calculations.

5. How is Power BI different from traditional reporting tools?

Traditional reporting tools provide static reports, whereas Power BI offers interactive visualizations and real-time data analysis capabilities. Power BI also allows users to connect to various data sources, transform and clean data, and create dynamic dashboards.

6. What are the benefits of using Power BI?

Some of the benefits of using Power BI include:

• Real-time data analysis

• Interactive visualizations

• Easy integration with various data sources

• Collaboration and sharing options

• Natural language querying

• Mobile accessibility

7. How can you secure sensitive data in Power BI?

Power BI provides various security measures to protect sensitive data, such as:

• Role-based access control

• Row-level security

• Data encryption

• Active Directory integration

8. How can you optimize the performance of a Power BI report?

To optimize the performance of a Power BI report, you can:

• Reduce the number of visuals on a single page

• Minimize the use of calculated columns and measures

• Use incremental refresh for large datasets

• Apply filters and slicers to limit the data being loaded

9. How can you create relationships between multiple tables in Power BI?

You can create relationships between tables in Power BI by selecting the related columns in each table and defining the relationship type (one-to-one, one-to-many, or many-to-many).

10. What is the Power BI Gateway?

The Power BI Gateway is a bridge that allows Power BI to connect with on-premises data sources. It enables data refresh and provides a secure connection between Power BI and the on-premises data.

11. What is DAX in Power BI?

DAX (Data Analysis Expressions) is a formula language used in Power BI to create custom calculations and aggregations. It is used to define calculated columns, measures, and calculated tables.

12. How can you create a measure in Power BI?

To create a measure in Power BI, you can use the "New Measure" option in the "Modeling" tab. You can then write a DAX formula to define the measure based on your calculation requirements.

13. Explain the concept of drill-through in Power BI.

Drill-through is a feature in Power BI that allows users to drill down from one report page to another, focusing on specific details. It provides a guided navigational experience for data analysis.

14. How can you publish a Power BI report?

To publish a Power BI report, you can use the "Publish" option in the Power BI Desktop. This allows you to save the report to the Power BI service, where you can share it with others.

15. How can you schedule data refresh in Power BI?

You can schedule data refresh in Power BI by configuring the refresh settings for each dataset in the Power BI service. This ensures that the data is updated at regular intervals.

16. What is a dashboard in Power BI?

A dashboard in Power BI is a collection of visualizations, reports, and data that provides a consolidated view of key business metrics. It allows users to monitor and analyze data from various sources in a single view.

17. How can you share a Power BI report with external stakeholders?

You can share a Power BI report with external stakeholders by publishing it to the web or by creating a Power BI app. Publishing to the web allows anyone with the link to access the report, while creating an app provides more control over access and permissions.

18. What is Power Query in Power BI?

Power Query is a data transformation and cleansing tool in Power BI that allows users to connect, combine, and shape data from various sources. It provides a user-friendly interface for data preparation.

19. How can you create a calculated table in Power BI?

To create a calculated table in Power BI, you can use the "New Table" option in the "Modeling" tab. You can then write a DAX formula to define the table based on your calculation requirements.

20. What are the limitations of Power BI?

Some of the limitations of Power BI include:

1. Limited support for large datasets

2. Limited data transformation capabilities

3. Limited support for complex data models

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Conclusion

Preparing for a Power BI interview can be challenging, but with the right set of questions and answers, you can showcase your skills and knowledge confidently. We hope this article has provided you with valuable insights and helped you in your interview preparation. Remember to practice answering these questions and customize your responses based on your own experiences. Good luck with your interview!