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Data Sources elements

Four different elements comprise the Data Source:

Dimensions
Measures
Sets
Parameters

Dimensions and Measures are mandatory in Tableau. You'll always find them. They have at least one field, and that field has a data type.

It's essential to understand the difference between Dimensions and Measures. Everything is explained in Chapter 2, The Tableau Core.

Sets and parameters are your creation. A Data Source can have no sets and no parameters. Sets are explained in the section Groups, Sets, and Bins, and there is a focus on parameters in Chapter 11, Analytics and Parameters.

Let's continue with an overview of the different data types.

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