DirectQuery
A Power BI connection mode where queries are sent live to the data source rather than importing data into the Power BI model.
Definition
A Power BI connection mode where queries are sent live to the data source rather than importing data into the Power BI model.
In Practice
DirectQuery enables real-time data access but requires careful design — queries must return results fast enough for acceptable report performance.
Why It Matters for Your Business
Understanding DirectQuery is important for anyone evaluating, implementing, or optimising a Power BI environment. Organisations that get this right from the start avoid costly rework and build analytics platforms that scale effectively as their data and reporting needs grow.
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