Explain the difference between Live Connection and Extraction in Tableau?

 In Tableau, there are two primary methods for connecting to data sources: Live Connection and Data Extraction (also known as Extract). Each method has its own characteristics and implications for performance and data availability. Here's an explanation of the differences between Live Connection and Extraction in Tableau:

Live Connection:

1. A Live Connection connects directly to the data source in real-time, without storing the data within Tableau.
2. It establishes a dynamic link between Tableau and the data source, allowing immediate access to the latest data.
3. When using a Live Connection, Tableau sends queries directly to the data source to retrieve and analyze the data in real-time.
4. Live Connection is suitable for situations where the data is frequently updated, and you require up-to-the-minute data analysis.
5. It is commonly used with live databases, online analytical processing (OLAP) cubes, or big data platforms that support real-time querying.
6. Live Connection provides the advantage of working with the most current data available, but it can be slower compared to an extract for complex queries or large datasets.

Data Extraction (Extract):

1. Data Extraction involves creating a static, optimized snapshot of the data from the original data source and storing it in a Tableau-specific file format (.tde or .hyper).
2. The extract file contains a subset or the entire dataset from the original source, depending on the extraction filters and settings applied.
3. Once the data is extracted, it is stored within Tableau and can be accessed and analyzed without the need for a live connection to the original data source.
4. Extracts are particularly useful when dealing with large datasets or slow data sources, as they improve performance by pre-aggregating and compressing the data.
5. Extracts allow for offline work and faster response times, as the data is stored locally and doesn't rely on real-time access to the data source.
6. However, extracts need to be refreshed periodically to capture the latest data changes. You can set up a refresh schedule or manually refresh the extract when needed.

In summary, Live Connection connects to the data source in real-time, providing immediate access to the latest data but potentially with slower performance. Data Extraction creates a static, optimized snapshot of the data within Tableau, enabling faster performance and offline work but requiring periodic refreshes to capture new data. The choice between Live Connection and Extraction depends on factors such as data freshness requirements, data source type, data size, and performance considerations.

Thanks for Reading, Subscribe us for more latest Visualization From scratch.